{"id":649,"date":"2022-04-29T18:19:38","date_gmt":"2022-04-29T18:19:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.psva.org\/?p=649"},"modified":"2022-04-29T18:26:33","modified_gmt":"2022-04-29T18:26:33","slug":"legislative-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.psva.org\/?p=649","title":{"rendered":"Legislative Update"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By<\/strong> James Pickral<\/strong>
Commonwealth Strategy Group<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Virginia General Assembly adjourned the 2022 session on March 12th<\/sup>.\u00a0 While the majority of bills were acted upon the budget conferees were not able to reconcile the House and Senate versions of the state\u2019s biennial budget.\u00a0 As such there was need for a special session to finish.\u00a0 Additionally, there were several bills that remained in committees of conference.\u00a0 These committees are appointed when the House and Senate pass different versions of the same bill.\u00a0 Usually, if a committee of conference isn\u2019t able to agree on a final version before adjournment the bill dies.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This session the General Assembly took the unusual step of continuing these bills to the yet to be called Special Session.\u00a0 Included with these bills was Delegate Dawn Adams HB 1245.\u00a0 This bill would make permanent the change from five years to two years the amount of time a nurse practitioner must spend as part of a patient care team before practicing independently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Special Session was called for April 4th<\/sup> by the Governor.  The General Assembly convened and passed rules for how the session was to be conducted.  They then went into recess and will remain in recess until the budget conferees reach an agreement.  There are several reasons for the lack of progress on the budget.  Namely, different revenue projections between the House and the Senate and a disagreement of tax policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The General Assembly will also convene on April 27th<\/sup> for the Reconvene Session.  This is the Session where the Governor\u2019s amendments and vetoes to bills that passed the General Assembly are considered.  Below are some bills of interest that were before the 2022 Session:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HB 146; Delegate Head, Insurance; provider complaints, etc<\/strong>
Provides that any person may submit a complaint of noncompliance by an insurer with any insurance law, regulation, or order of the State Corporation Commission on behalf of a health care provider. The bill provides that the Commission shall investigate such complaints and notify the complainants of the outcomes, but that the Commission shall not have jurisdiction to adjudicate individual controversies or matters of contractual dispute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Status: Signed by the Governor<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HB 213; Delegate Robinson, Optometrists; allowed to perform laser surgery if certified by Board of Optometry<\/strong>
Allows an optometrist to perform laser surgery upon certification by the Board of Optometry. The optometrist must satisfactorily complete such didactic and clinical training programs provided by an accredited school or college of optometry that includes training in the use of lasers for the medically appropriate and recognized treatment of the human eye. Also, he\/she must report annual any disciplinary action, malpractice judgment, or malpractice settlement against the provider and information regarding the number and types of laser surgeries performed and the conditions treated, as well as any adverse treatment outcomes associated with the performance of such laser surgeries<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Status: Signed by the Governor<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HB 243; Delegate Dawn Adams, Medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic, and podiatric medicine requirements for practitioners<\/strong>
Sought to increase the duration of postgraduate training required for issuance of a license to practice medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic, or podiatric medicine from 12 months to 36 months; would require every practitioner licensed to practice medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic, and podiatric medicine to obtain and maintain coverage by or to be named the insured on a professional liability insurance policy with limits equal to the current limitation on damages set forth in the Code of Virginia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Status: Failed to pass<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HB 773; Delegate Keith Hodges and <\/strong>SB 427; Senator Siobhan Dunnavant<\/a>;<\/strong> Health insurance; provider credentialing, receipt of application<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Requires that a carrier provide recognition or notification of receipt of an applicant’s credentialing application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n