2010 General Assembly Session
The Joint Commission on Health Care introduces a legislative package each year during the General Assembly Session. Many of the legislative proposals and budget amendments are the result of studies conducted by the Joint Commission throughout the year.
Continued to 2011 in House Courts of Justice
Disclosure of adverse medical outcomes; pilot program. Creates a pilot program to assess the creation of disclosure programs in health care facilities designed to facilitate disclosures of adverse medical outcomes between health care providers and patients. The Department of Health shall adopt guidelines concerning the standards for such disclosure programs. Participating health care facilities are required to assess any such program and make reports to the Department of Health. The pilot program sunsets on December 31, 2015.
Passed the Senate (40-0) but was amended to conform to HB 867 before passing in the House (71-27). The subcommittee of conference was unable to reach agreement, so SB 260 failed to pass. (HB 867 was continued to 2011 in Senate Education and Health.)
Mental health and substance abuse providers; background checks. Allows private providers licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to hire as a direct care employee in adult substance abuse or mental health treatment programs a person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor violation relating to assault and battery against a family or household member as long as such offense was substantially related to substance abuse or mental illness and the applicant has been rehabilitated. Alternatively, the bill authorizes private providers to hire as a direct care employee persons who have been convicted of not more than one misdemeanor violation relating to assault and battery against a family or household member if 10 years have elapsed since the conviction, unless the person committed the offense while employed in a direct consumer care position.The bill also makes a technical change that clarifies the existing law that (i) community service boards and private providers may hire as a direct care employee persons who have been convicted of not more than one misdemeanor violation relating to assault and battery and (ii) community service boards may hire as a direct care employee persons who have been convicted of not more than one misdemeanor violation relating to assault and battery of a family or household member, provided, however, that in the case of any conviction referenced in clause (i) or (ii), 10 years have elapsed since the conviction, and the person did no commit the offense while employed in a direct consumer care position.
Senate Bill 706 - Senator R. Edward Houck
Passed both chambers on unanimous votes.
Health insurance; coverage for mental health and substance abuse services. Removes the benefit limitations applicable to coverage for inpatient, partial hospitalization, and outpatient mental health and substance abuse services under large group health insurance policies. Under this measure, coverage for such services under large group policies will not be more restrictive than for other illness. The existing limitations will continue to apply to individual and small group policies.
Left in House Rules.
JLARC; study the costs and benefits of implementing the Home and Community-Based Services State Plan Option; report. Directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the costs and benefits of implementing the Home and Community-Based Services State Plan Option.
Passed both chambers on unanimous votes.
Virginia Cancer Plan; report. Requests the Virginia Cancer Plan Action Coalition to report on changes to the Virginia Cancer Plan to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Joint Commission on Health Care in each year that changes are made to the Virginia Cancer Plan.
Passed by indefinitely in Senate Rules.
Study; Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission; State Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman. Requests the Joint legislative Audit and Review Commission to examine the need for additional state funding for the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman and the local offices and whether the state Office should have greater administrative control over resource allocation and other administrative decisions.
