Virginia Passes Budget Expanding Healthcare Access
Virginia’s General Assembly has passed the “Affordable Virginia Budget,” which includes expanded investment in healthcare, childcare, and family support. Proponents state the budget is designed to deliver for working families by bolstering access to care and addressing health disparities. The legislation's focus on healthcare expansion is expected to impact the practice environment for maternal health professions, including nurse-midwifery.
The "Affordable Virginia Budget" specifically allocates new funding to enhance maternal and infant health programs across the Commonwealth. This investment is part of a broader strategy to address health disparities and bolster support for working families. A key component of this initiative includes a $2.5 million pilot program for mobile health clinics designed to reach maternal health deserts. An additional $2.5 million is designated for creating new perinatal health hubs in underserved areas to improve community-based care and outcomes. The budget also directs $315,000 to the Virginia Neonatal Perinatal Collaborative, an organization focused on reducing maternal and infant mortality by promoting evidence-based practices in hospitals and healthcare settings throughout the state. This funding complements legislative changes effective July 2025, which will grant certified nurse-midwives full independent practice authority after 1,000 supervised clinical hours and mandate 100% reimbursement parity from insurers. These changes aim to significantly improve the practice environment and autonomy for nurse-midwives. The demand for nurse-midwives in Virginia is projected to grow by 26% through 2032, a rate significantly higher than the state average for all occupations. This growth is driven by workforce shortages and an increasing recognition of the value of midwifery care, particularly in the 37.6% of Virginia counties classified as maternity care deserts. To better track and address maternal health issues, the state has launched new data dashboards. These platforms provide public-facing metrics on key outcomes like preterm births, infant mortality, and access to prenatal care, sorted by region and demographics. Advocacy from groups such as the Virginia Midwives Alliance and the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy was instrumental in securing these legislative and budgetary wins. Their efforts have focused on expanding access to midwifery care and ensuring equitable reimbursement. For pregnant and postpartum individuals with mental health needs, the Virginia Health Care Foundation has launched the "It Takes a Village" program. This initiative, supported by the state's "MOMnibus" package, provides low or no-cost counseling services, available both in-person and via telehealth.
