2022 Health and Wellness General Assembly Outcomes

Bills We Supported

HB 1012/SB 484

Comprehensive children’s health care coverage program | Delegate Tran | Senator McClellan

HB 1012 Status: Left in House Health, Welfare and Institutions.

SB 484 Status: Continued to 2023 session.

Summary: Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to establish a program to provide state-funded comprehensive health care coverage for individuals in the Commonwealth who are under 19 years of age, are not covered under a group health plan or health insurance coverage, and but for their immigration status would be eligible for medical assistance services through the Commonwealth’s program of medical assistance services. The bill also requires all program information is made available in a manner that is accessible to individuals with limited English proficiency through the provision of language access services free of charge, and ensures information obtained by the program remains confidential and is not disclosed for any purpose not related to the administration of the program or any purpose related to civil immigration enforcement unless the subject of the information consents to such disclosure or the requesting agency presents a valid judicial order, subpoena, or warrant.    

HJ 5 –

Joint Commission on Health Care Study of Benefits of Hospitals, Health Systems, and other Providers addressing the health-related social needs of Virginians | Delegate Faris

Status: Recommended laying on the table.

Summary: Directs the Joint Commission on Health Care to study the benefits of hospitals, health systems, and other providers in addressing the health-related social needs of Virginians. The study shall identify opportunities for policy making to make health care in Virginia more affordable and effective through innovations in care coordination, workforce development, payment options, and improved data collection.

HJ 73 –

Joint Commission on Health Care Study of Effects of Gun Violence on Communities | Delegate Price

Status: Left in House Rules.

Summary: Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the social, physical, emotional, and economic effects of gun violence on communities across the Commonwealth.

SB 245/SB 201 –

Public hospital Medical Debt Collection Practices | Senator Hashmi

Status: Incorporated into SB 201 (Sen. Favola) by Senate Education and Health SB 201 passed and was signed by the Governor (Effective 7/1/2022).

Summary: Requires the University of Virginia Medical Center and the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Authority to make payment plans available to each person who incurs a debt related to medical treatment. The bill requires that payment plans be provided in writing and cap monthly payments at no more than five percent of the person’s household income, provides that the first payment under the plan is not due until at least 90 days after the date on which treatment was provided or the date on which the person discharged, and provides that a person who has made at least 10 payments pursuant to the payment plan in a 12-month period shall be deemed to be in compliance with the payment plan. The bill also requires the Medical Center and Authority to make information available in writing in languages other than English spoken in the service area and via oral translation service for other languages amongst other requirements.

HB 987 –

Medicaid Program Information Accessibility | Delegate Tran

Status: Passed and signed by the Governor (Effective 7/1/2022).

Summary: Directs the Board of Medical Assistance Services to ensure that all program information defined in the bill is made available in a manner that is accessible to individuals with limited English proficiency through language access services, including oral interpretation and written translations, and auxiliary aids services for individuals with disabilities as a reasonable step to providing meaningful access to health care coverage.

HB 229 –

Department of Health Social Determinants of Health Outcomes | Delegate Coyner

Status: Passed and signed by the Governor (Effective 7/1/2022).

Summary: Directs the Department of Health to collect and analyze information regarding social determinants of health, defined in the bill, and their impact on health risks and health outcomes of residents of the Commonwealth, and to make information regarding social determinants of health, their impact on health, and strategies for addressing social determinants of health to improve health outcomes available to the public on its website.


Budget Amendments We Supported

Item 305 #1s –

Comprehensive Children’s Health Care Coverage Program | Senator McClellan

Status: Not included in the House or Senate budget. Good news: We were able to gain bipartisan support. It will be reconsidered in the 2023 General Assembly Session.

Summary: Out of this appropriation, $14,969,696 the first year and $19,051,542 the second year from the general fund is provided to establish a state-funded health coverage program for children under 19 years of age who are uninsured and would qualify for Medicaid or FAMIS except for their immigration status, consistent with Senate Bill 484 of the 2022 General Assembly Session. This amendment includes $15.0 million GF in FY 2023 and $19.1 million in FY 2024 pursuant to the passage of Senate Bill 484 which would create a state-funded comprehensive health care coverage program for individuals in Virginia who are under 19 years of age, are not covered under a group health plan or health insurance coverage, and but for their immigration status would be eligible for Virginia’s Medicaid or FAMIS program.

Item 305 #1h –

Comprehensive Children’s Health Care Coverage Program | Delegate Tran

Status: Not included in the House or Senate budget. Good news: We were able to gain bipartisan support. It will be reconsidered in the 2023 General Assembly Session.

Summary: Out of this appropriation, $14,494,696 the first year and $19,051,542 the second year from the general fund is provided to establish a state-funded health coverage program for children under 19 years of age who are uninsured and would qualify for Medicaid or FAMIS except for their immigration status, consistent with the provisions of House Bill 1012 of the 2022 General Assembly Session. This amendment includes $14.4 million from the general fund in fiscal year 2023 and $19.1 million from the general fund in fiscal year 2024 pursuant to the passage of House Bill 1012 which would create a state-funded comprehensive health care coverage program for individuals in Virginia who are under 19 years of age, are not covered under a group health plan or health insurance coverage, and but for their immigration status would be eligible for Virginia’s Medicaid or FAMIS program.

Item 304 #19h –

Develop Medicaid Value-Based Purchasing Program for Primary Care Providers | Delegate Coyner

Status: Not included in the House or Senate budget.

Summary: The Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) shall work with the appropriate primary care stakeholders and Medicaid managed care organizations to develop a unified, value-based purchasing (VBP) program for primary care providers (PCP) that includes enhanced funding for PCPs that meet or exceed performance and/or improvement thresholds as developed, reported, and measured by DMAS in cooperation with participating providers. This amendment adds $18.9 million the first year and $45.2 million the second year from the general fund and $20.4 million from the non-general fund the first year and $64.3 million from the non-general fund the second year from matching federal Medicaid funds and other non-general funds to implement a reimbursement increase for primary care providers to 100% of the federal fiscal year 2021 Medicare equivalent and to implement a value-based purchasing program.


Governor’s Budget Amendments

Medicaid & FAMIS Copayments

Summary: Eliminates remaining copayment requirements for children in the Family Access to Medical Insurance Security managed care program and for adults in fee for service Medicaid. This will go into effect April 1, 2022 or upon expiration of the federal public health emergency related to COVID-19, whichever is earlier. $2.5M the first year and $2.4M the second year.

Medicaid Reimbursement Rates for Primary Care Services

Summary: Increases Medicaid & FAMIS rates for physician PCP services, excluding services emergency departments, to 80 percent of the federal FY 2021 Medicare equivalent. $38.3M the first year and $43.7M the second year

Workforce Incentives

Summary: Provides funds to allow Virginia to draw down its entire federal share for the State Loan Repayment Program. The federal funding has a 1:1 match requirement, this would allow VDH to draw down a total of $1.5 million in federal funds. $2.2M for the first year and $2.2M the second year.