Hampton VA Health System Begins Upgrades
What happened
The Hampton VA health care system in Virginia has begun a major infrastructure upgrade project. The modernization reflects a broader trend in the state to update health facilities, which could eventually affect the range of services offered, including maternal health.
Why it matters
- The Hampton VA upgrades include renovating multiple buildings, replacing the nurse call and boiler plant systems, and making significant infrastructure improvements to support the Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) program. - This project is part of a larger national investment by the Department of Veterans Affairs, which has allocated $4.8 billion in fiscal year 2026 for its Non-Recurring Maintenance program to repair and modernize medical facilities across the country. - The modernization at the Hampton VA mirrors a statewide trend, with major health systems like Inova, Bon Secours, and Sentara also undertaking multi-million and billion-dollar expansion and renovation projects. - The Hampton VA Medical Center provides a range of women's health services, including gynecology, maternity care, and postpartum support, and has a dedicated Women's Clinic. - Recent Virginia legislation aims to address maternity care shortages by expanding the roles of midwives. House Bill 1904, effective July 2025, allows certified nurse-midwives to serve on 24-hour on-call rosters for nursery care. - Further legislation, House Bill 1923, mandates reimbursement parity from private insurers and Medicaid for different types of licensed midwives, recognizing their comparable training and clinical outcomes. - These policy changes are significant as 37.6% of Virginia's counties are classified as "maternity care deserts" with limited or no access to obstetric care. - In 2023, approximately 14% of births in Virginia were attended by midwives, a figure that may grow with new legislation designed to expand access to midwifery care.
Key numbers
- This project is part of a larger national investment by the Department of Veterans Affairs, which has allocated $4.8 billion in fiscal year 2026 for its Non-Recurring Maintenance program to repair and modernize medical facilities across the country.
- House Bill 1904, effective July 2025, allows certified nurse-midwives to serve on 24-hour on-call rosters for nursery care.
- Further legislation, House Bill 1923, mandates reimbursement parity from private insurers and Medicaid for different types of licensed midwives, recognizing their comparable training and clinical outcomes.
- These policy changes are significant as 37.6% of Virginia's counties are classified as "maternity care deserts" with limited or no access to obstetric care.
What happens next
- Recent Virginia legislation aims to address maternity care shortages by expanding the roles of midwives.
- In 2023, approximately 14% of births in Virginia were attended by midwives, a figure that may grow with new legislation designed to expand access to midwifery care.
- The modernization reflects a broader trend in the state to update health facilities, which could eventually affect the range of services offered, including maternal health.
Quick answers
What happened in Hampton VA Health System Begins Upgrades?
The Hampton VA health care system in Virginia has begun a major infrastructure upgrade project. The modernization reflects a broader trend in the state to update health facilities, which could eventually affect the range of services offered, including maternal health.
Why does Hampton VA Health System Begins Upgrades matter?
The Hampton VA upgrades include renovating multiple buildings, replacing the nurse call and boiler plant systems, and making significant infrastructure improvements to support the Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) program. This project is part of a larger national investment by the Department of Veterans Affairs, which has allocated $4.8 billion in fiscal year 2026 for its Non-Recurring Maintenance program to repair and modernize medical facilities across the country. The modernization at the Hampton VA mirrors a statewide trend, with major health systems like Inova, Bon Secours, and Sentara also undertaking multi-million and billion-dollar expansion and renovation projects. The Hampton VA Medical Center provides a range of women's health services, including gynecology, maternity care, and postpartum support, and has a dedicated Women's Clinic. Recent Virginia legislation aims to address maternity care shortages by expanding the roles of midwives. House Bill 1904, effective July 2025, allows certified nurse-midwives to serve on 24-hour on-call rosters for nursery care. Further legislation, House Bill 1923, mandates reimbursement parity from private insurers and Medicaid for different types of licensed midwives, recognizing their comparable training and clinical outcomes. These policy changes are significant as 37.6% of Virginia's counties are classified as "maternity care deserts" with limited or no access to obstetric care. In 2023, approximately 14% of births in Virginia were attended by midwives, a figure that may grow with new legislation designed to expand access to midwifery care.
