Virginia Considers New Healthcare Bills
Virginia’s General Assembly is considering several healthcare bills that could reshape hospital operations and maternal care delivery. The proposed legislation addresses hospital staffing, telehealth expansion, and patient billing transparency. Leaders from University of Virginia Health are engaging with lawmakers, as the outcomes could affect practice models for nurse-midwives statewide.
- A proposed budget amendment by Sen. Creigh Deeds and Del. Rodney Willett aims to create a workgroup to investigate and resolve barriers that prevent midwives from contracting with Virginia's Medicaid managed-care organizations. This comes as many of the state's more than 500 midwives do not accept Medicaid, despite it being a covered service, a challenge particularly for practices offering home or community births. - The "Midwives and Maternal Access Insurance Parity" (MAMA) bill, co-sponsored by the VA Affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives, would mandate that both commercial health plans and Medicaid reimburse all licensed midwives at 100% of the fee schedule. This follows the passage of HB1923 in 2025, which required insurance companies to reimburse licensed certified midwives and licensed midwives at the same rate as certified nurse-midwives. - Telehealth expansion is a key focus, with House Bill 1284 clarifying Medicaid reimbursement for provider-to-provider telehealth consultations and remote patient monitoring. Specifically for maternal health, SB 271, proposed by Sen. Jennifer Carroll Foy, would establish a pilot program for remotely monitoring pregnant women with high-risk conditions like hypertension and gestational diabetes. - A proposed constitutional amendment for the November 2026 ballot would establish a "fundamental right to reproductive freedom." If passed by voters, this would amend the Virginia Constitution to protect an individual's ability to make decisions about their own prenatal, childbirth, and postpartum care. - Building on a 2025 law that allows certified nurse-midwives to provide newborn care without a pediatrician present, lawmakers are considering a new task force to further examine and reduce barriers to midwifery care. This initiative, from Del. Rodney Willett and Sen. Creigh Deeds, is intended to help ensure midwives can practice to the full extent of their training, especially in rural areas facing hospital obstetric unit closures. - To increase billing transparency, House Bill 1209 would require hospitals to give patients an itemized statement of charges for any non-emergent medical services within 30 days. Other proposed legislation, such as Senate Bill 593, seeks to strengthen protections against balance billing for out-of-network emergency services. - Several initiatives are aimed at bolstering the healthcare workforce, including Senate Bill 625, which would create a loan-for-service program offering up to $50,000 for medical students who commit to working in underserved or rural areas of Virginia after their education.
