Virginia Employers Face Major Workplace Policy Shifts
Employers in Virginia are reportedly facing significant shifts in workplace policy under new state leadership. These changes are expected to affect various employment environments, including midwifery practices and other healthcare settings.
- A new law, HB 1904, will allow certified nurse-midwives to fulfill 24-hour on-call duty roster requirements for newborn nursery care when a physician is unavailable, a change designed to help keep labor and delivery units open in rural areas. This legislation, introduced by Delegate Rodney Willett, D-Henrico County, and signed by the governor, takes effect July 1, 2025. - Governor Glenn Youngkin signed a package of bills, including HB 1923 and SB 1352, that establishes reimbursement parity for all licensed midwives, including Certified Nurse-Midwives and Certified Midwives, from both private insurance and Medicaid at 100% of the fee schedule. - Approximately 36% of Virginia's counties are considered "maternity care deserts," lacking adequate access to obstetric hospitals, birth centers, or certified nurse-midwives. The recent legislative changes aim to address these shortages by expanding the roles of midwives. - Licensed certified midwives who have practiced for fewer than 1,000 hours are required to have a practice agreement with a licensed physician or an independent practice midwife for consultation. After completing 1,000 hours, they may practice without a formal agreement upon receiving an attestation. - As of July 1, 2025, healthcare employers in Virginia must implement comprehensive workplace violence prevention plans, as mandated by House Bill 2269 and Senate Bill 1260. These plans require systems for documenting, tracking, and analyzing incidents of workplace violence to improve safety for all healthcare workers. - The Virginia Affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives (VA ACNM) has been a key advocate for recent legislative changes, working to expand the midwifery workforce and promote midwifery as the standard of care. - To address staffing shortages, the new regulations also permit the use of telehealth for physician consultations in nursery care, potentially expanding specialized expertise to more remote locations in Virginia. - In addition to expanding midwifery care, Governor Youngkin's administration has also focused on strengthening oversight of nursing homes through Executive Order 52, which aims to increase workforce capacity, modernize operations with technology, and enhance public transparency.
