House Bill (HB) 343 would require that the Board of Health include in its regulations a requirement for nursing centers to provide a full refund of unexpended patient funds on deposit with the facility following the discharge or death of a patient within 30 day of a written request for the funds by the patient or the decedent’s estate administrator. The bill was unanimously endorsed by the Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee’s subcommittee #2 on January 21. It will be considered by the full committee next week.

Feedback from VHCA-VCAL members indicated that under Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) requirements, unexpended funds are released within 30 days.

Del. Brenda Pogge (R-James City) introduced HB 343 to help address a situation faced by a constituent when it took a family nine months to recover pre-paid funds for nursing facility care after their family member passed away.