Summary: Patient visitation; visitation from clergy members. Requires hospitals, nursing homes, and certified nursing facilitiesto allow patients to receive visits from clergy members during adeclared public health emergency related to a communicable diseaseof public health threat. Under the bill, the hospital, nursing home,or certified nursing facility may require the clergy member to complywith all reasonable health and safety requirements and may restrictvisits of a clergy member who fails a health screening measure or tests positive for a communicable disease of public health concern.If the health and safety requirement substantially burdens the clergymember's free exercise of religion, the hospital, nursing home, orcertified nursing facility may require compliance only if the requirementfurthers a compelling health and safety interest and imposes theleast restrictive requirement. The bill provides immunity for hospitals,nursing homes, and certified nursing facilities and their employeesand contractors from liability for injury or death due to exposureto a communicable disease of public health concern resulting fromor related to such visitation, except in limited circumstances. Thebill also allows a person or religious organization to bring a civilaction against a hospital, nursing home, or certified nursing facilityalleging a violation of such visitation provisions.

Summary: Long-term services and supports screening; authorizationto share assessments. Allows completed screenings for long-termservices and supports to be shared with local departments of socialservices. Such screenings may be used to determine eligibility withoutcompletion of additional screenings if they are received within 30days of an individual's application for long-term services and supports.

Summary: Provisional licenses issued to providers ofbehavioral health and developmental services; notice requirement;waiver of appeal right by consent agreement. Requires the Commissionerof Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to notify a providerof behavioral health and developmental services who is issued a provisionallicense of any limitations that can be placed on the provider by any other agency of the Commonwealth, including restrictions onreimbursement that may be imposed by the Department of Medical AssistanceServices. The bill requires that a consent agreement signed by such provider waiving his right to appeal a provisional license issuancedecision outline such potential restrictions on reimbursement andthat a copy of the signed consent agreement be provided to the Departmentof Medical Assistances Services.

Summary: Emergency Department Care Management Grant Programand Fund; report. Establishes the Emergency Department Care ManagementGrant Program and the Emergency Department Care Management Grant Fund. The bill provides that the Program is established to providegrants to eligible hospitals that provide care management and medicalservices to frequent users of hospital emergency departments, withgrants to be awarded to (i) reduce patient usage of emergency departmentsfor routine, nonurgent, primary medical care; (ii) support emergencydepartment case management staff; (iii) identify and analyze thecomprehensive health care needs of patients; (iv) identify socialdeterminants of health and barriers to care; (v) facilitate collaborationwith providers and payers to develop a plan for community care; and(vi) improve the ability of patients to manage their care in the community. The bill directs the Department of Health to evaluate the effectivenessof the Program and requires the State Health Commissioner to reportthe Department's findings to the General Assembly and the Joint Commissionon Health Care by October 1, 2027. The provisions of the bill sunseton July 1, 2028.

Summary: Auxiliary grants; independent community living.Allows the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services toprovide auxiliary grants to eligible recipients residing in independentcommunity living, as defined in the bill, under conditions set forthin the bill. The bill directs the Department of Medical AssistanceServices to, if deemed necessary, amend the state plan for medicalassistance services and any waivers thereof to implement the provisionsof the bill and limits to no more than 200 the number of auxiliarygrant recipients in independent community living. The bill has adelayed effective date of January 1, 2024, and directs the Commissionerfor Aging and Rehabilitative Services to adopt emergency regulationsto implement its provisions.

Summary: Public pools; regulations. Directs the Boardof Health to adopt regulations governing swimming pools and otherwater recreational facilities operated for public use, includingswimming pools and other water recreational facilities operated inconjunction with a tourist facility or health spa.

Summary: Board of Medicine; licensure of anesthesiologistassistants. Establishes criteria for the licensure of anesthesiologist assistants and directs the Board of Medicine to adopt regulationsgoverning the practice of anesthesiologist assistants. The bill providesthat no person shall use or assume the title "anesthesiologist assistant"or hold himself out as an anesthesiologist assistant unless such person holds a license as an anesthesiologist assistant issued bythe Board.

Summary: Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology InterstateCompact. Authorizes Virginia to become a signatory to the Audiologyand Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact. The Compact increasespublic access to audiology and speech-language pathology servicesby providing for the mutual recognition of other member state licensesfor such services. The Compact has been enacted in 23 states andthe Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Compact Commission iscurrently preparing rules and bylaws in order for the member statesto be fully integrated in the Compact's data system.

Summary: Public benefits; eligibility of certain aliens.Repeals provisions prohibiting persons other than United States citizensor persons who are legally present in the United States from receivingcertain public benefits.

Summary: Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. Createsthe Interstate Medical Licensure Compact to create a process forexpedited issuance of a license to practice medicine in the Commonwealthfor qualifying physicians to enhance the portability of medical licenseswhile protecting patient safety. The bill establishes requirementsfor coordination of information systems among member states and proceduresfor investigation and discipline of physicians alleged to have engagedin unprofessional conduct. The bill creates the Interstate MedicalLicensure Compact Commission to administer the compact.

Summary: Department of Medical Assistance; annual reviewof medication and treatment for sickle cell disease; report. Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to conductan annual review of all medications and forms of treatment for sicklecell disease, and services for enrollees with a diagnosis of sicklecell disease, that are eligible for coverage under the state planfor medical assistance. The bill requires the Department to reportits findings and recommendations by November 15 each year to theChairmen of the House Committee of Health, Welfare and Institutionsand the Senate Committee on Education and Health and to the JointCommission on Health Care.

Summary: Payor of last resort; third-party claims; rightto recovery; transferability. Establishes the Department of MedicalAssistance Services' ability to transfer its right of recovery onthird-party claims to managed care organizations. The bill specifiesthat managed care organizations receive the same right to recoveryas the Department upon transfer of the claim and gives managed careorganizations a one-year period in which to identify and bill a thirdparty, after which the Department may pursue a claim.

Summary: In-person visitation policies and procedures at certain facilities. Requires hospitals, nursing home, certified nursing facilities, hospices or hospice facilities, assisted living facilities, and intermediate care facilities to establish certain in-person visitation policies and procedures. The bill (i) requires that such policies include screening, personal protective equipment, and other infection control protocols for visitors; (ii) prohibits such policies from requiring the visitor to provide proof of immunization or vaccination; (iii) requires such policies to allow consensual physical contact between the visitor and the resident, client, or patient of the facility; (iv) authorizes the resident, client, or patient to designate an essential caregiver and establishes requirements related to essential caregivers; (v) requires that such policies allow unrestricted in-person visitation under certain circumstances; (vi) provides that the policies and procedures may require visitors to agree in writing to follow such policies and procedures; (vii) authorizes facilities to suspend in-person visitation of specific visitors for violations of such agreement; (viii) requires facilities to make their in-person policies and procedures available to the Department of Health for review when applying for initial licensure, licensure renewal, or change of ownership; and (ix) requires facilities and the Department of Health to make their in-person visitation policies and procedures easily accessible from their websites.  

Summary: Comprehensive children's health care coverage program.Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services (the Department) toestablish a program to provide state-funded comprehensive health care coveragefor individuals in the Commonwealth who (i) are under 19 years of age, (ii) arenot covered under a group health plan or health insurance coverage, and (iii)but for their immigration status would be eligible for medical assistance servicesthrough the Commonwealth's program of medical assistance services establishedpursuant to Title XIX or XXI of the Social Security Act. The bill also requiresthe Department to ensure that all program information is made available in amanner that is accessible to individuals with limited English proficiency andindividuals with disabilities through the provision of language accessservices, including oral interpretation and written translations, free ofcharge and to ensure that information obtained by the program remainsconfidential and is not disclosed for any purpose not related to theadministration of the program or any purpose related to civil immigrationenforcement unless the subject of the information consents to such disclosureor the requesting agency presents a valid judicial order, subpoena, or warrant.The bill also requires the Department to (a) establish aworkgroup composed of individuals with experience conducting outreach toindividuals who are eligible for the program established by the bill to adviseand assist the Department in carrying out marketing and outreach activitiesrequired by the bill and (b) seek all federal waivers and other approvalsnecessary to maximize federal financial participation in the cost of carryingout the program established by the bill.

Summary: Graduates of foreign nursing education programs;licensure requirements. Requires that applicants for licensureto practice professional nursing who are graduates of a nursing educationprogram in a foreign country (i) pass a written examination as requiredby the Board of Nursing; (ii) pass a language examination that assessesgeneral English proficiency provided by an entity approved by theBoard of Nursing; and (iii) submit their educational credentialsfor evaluation and verification by an entity approved by the Boardof Nursing. The bill requires the Board of Nursing to (a) identifyat least three approved entities to provide language examinationsand at least three approved entities to evaluate and verify credentialsearned from a nursing education program in a foreign country and(b) make the list of approved entities publicly available on the Boardof Nursing website.

Summary: Surgical technologists and surgical assistants;practice prior to certification. Allows surgical technologistsand surgical assistants who have successfully completed an accreditedsurgical technologist training program or surgical assistant training program to practice under certain conditions prior to certificationor licensure, respectively. The bill allows such person to practiceas a surgical technologist with the title "surgical technologist,certificate applicant" until he has received a failing score on anyexamination for national certification or six months from the dateof program completion, whichever occurs sooner. The bill allows suchperson to practice as a surgical assistant with the title "surgicalassistant, license applicant" until he has received a failing scoreon the national certification examination or six months from thedate of graduation, whichever occurs sooner.

Summary: Department of Health Professions; Virginia Healthcare Workforce Data Center; provision of certain information related tohealth care providers to the public. Directs the Department ofHealth Professions (the Department), through its Virginia HealthcareWorkforce Data Center, to make available to the public by requestany existing data on health care providers by locality, includingcertification type and demographic information for each provider.The bill requires that if the Department is unable to provide suchinformation upon request, the Department must provide an explanationto the requestor as to why the information cannot be provided.

Summary: Providers of treatment for substance use disorder;use of methadone or opioid replacements; biometric certification.Requires providers of treatment for substance use disorder who administermethadone or opioid replacements as treatments to utilize biometriccertification to verify the identity of the clinician and patient.Biometric certification includes iris scans of patients and eitheriris scans or two-finger fingerprint scans of clinicians. The billrequires the Board of Pharmacy to establish a statewide data repositoryfor the storage of records of every transaction involving the administrationof methadone or opioid replacements to a patient, with such recordsbeing held for no fewer than 10 years.

Summary: Immunization; immunization of children againstCOVID-19. Specifies that parents shall not be required to immunizetheir children against COVID-19.

Summary: Certificate of public need program; regulations;charity care. Allows facilities other than hospitals to includecare provided to individuals who are covered under the state planfor medical assistance in the charity care requirement of the certificateof public need program.

Summary: Parental consent to surgical and medical treatment of certain minors; admission of minors to mental health facilityfor inpatient treatment. Requires written informed consent fromthe parent or guardian of any minor prior to any non-emergency surgicalor medical treatment, mental health treatment, or immunizationof a minor. The bill limits circumstances under existing law when a minor shall be deemed an adult for the purpose of consenting tocertain medical or health services. The bill also allows a minorof any age to be admitted to a mental health facility for inpatienttreatment without the consent of the minor.

Summary: Practice of certified registered nurse anesthetists.Allows certified registered nurse anesthetists to practice in consultationwith a doctor of medicine, osteopathy, podiatry, or dentistry. Currently,certified registered nurse anesthetists are required to practiceunder the supervision of a doctor of medicine, osteopathy, podiatry,or dentistry.

Summary: Emergency Services and Disaster Law; Commissioner of Health; emergency orders and regulations; limitations; civil penalty. Provides that neither the Board of Health nor the Commissioner of Health shall make any emergency order or regulation unless, on the basis of the evidence available to the Board, (i) such order or regulation is necessary to suppress a nuisance dangerous to the public health or a communicable, contagious, or infectious disease or other danger to the public life and health; (ii) no alternatives to the proposed order or regulation that are reasonable in light of the impact on quality of life and economic well-being exist; and (iii) the provisions of such order or regulation are narrowly tailored to address the nuisance dangerous to the public health or a communicable, contagious, or infectious disease or other danger to the public life and health. The bill also provides that the Governor shall not issue any emergency rule, regulation, or order unless, on the basis of the evidence available to the Governor, (a) such rule, regulation, or order is necessary to address a compelling circumstance; (b) no alternatives to the proposed rule, regulation, or order that are reasonable in light of the impact on quality of life and economic well-being exist; and (c) the provisions of such rule, regulation, or order are narrowly tailored to address the compelling circumstance. The bill provides that any order that limits the number of individuals who may gather together in person, in public or private, or categorizes individuals on the basis of their relationship to or association with such individuals and limits the categories of individuals with whom an individual who is not known or reasonably suspected to have been exposed to or infected with a communicable disease of public health threat may associate is presumed to negatively impact quality of life and economic well-being. The bill also limits the duration of any emergency rule, regulation, or order to 15 days; provides for one 15-day extension of such rule, regulation, or order; and provides that any person who violates such rule, regulation, or order shall be subject to a civil penalty of no more than $100 per violation. Under current law, any person who violates the provisions of an executive order is subject to a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Summary: Sports facilities; automated external defibrillator required. Requires that every sports facility, defined in thebill, in the Commonwealth have a working automated external defibrillator.

Summary: Responsible Fatherhood Initiative; fatherhoodneeds assessment; Fatherhood Support Grants Program and Fund established.Requires the Virginia Department of Social Services to contract forthe development and implementation of the Responsible FatherhoodInitiative for the purpose of providing an opportunity for everyfather in the Commonwealth to be able to obtain information and inspirationthat will motivate and enable him to enhance his abilities as a fatherand establishes requirements for the entities contracting with theDepartment to implement the initiative. Under the bill, each localboard of social services shall undertake certain actions to ensurethat the local department of social services is addressing the uniqueneeds of the fathers of children served by the local department.The bill also establishes the Fatherhood Supports Grant Fund, whichawards grants to not-for-profit community-based organizations toaddress the needs of fathers.