Session at the halfway mark: Tuesday marked crossover, the midpoint of the 2024 General Assembly session and the deadline by which the House and Senate had to act on bills originating in their respective chambers.

• On Sunday, February 18, the budget-writing committees will issue their proposals for the biennial budget for state fiscal years 2025 and 2026.
• VHCA-VCAL continues to advocate for improvements to Medicaid base rates. Tell legislators you support increased Medicaid funding for nursing facilities.

Highlights of bills tracked by VHCA-VCAL.

Expansion of LTSS screenings that can be conducted by nursing facility screening teams – This morning the Senate Education and Health Committee favorably reported the House version of the LTSS Screening bill, HB 291, setting it up for consideration by the full Senate.

• The companion version of the bill, SB 24, has been assigned to the House Health and Human Services Committee.

Developing a regulatory pathway for medication aides to administer drugs at certified nursing facilities – HB 349 will be considered by the health professions subcommittee of the Senate Education and Health Committee on February 16.

• The bill directs the Board of Nursing (BON) to create a workgroup to determine the educational requirements and criteria to be used to enable advanced registered medication aides to administer drugs to residents in certified nursing facilities.

Repeal of the medical malpractice cap for patients under age 10 – Although the Senate Courts of Justice Committee voted to report and refer to the Finance and Appropriations Committee SB 493, the bill failed to report in the second committee.

• The legislation would have eliminated the applicability of Virginia’s medical malpractice cap for any actions against a health care provider treating a patient aged 10 or younger.
• VHCA-VCAL was part of a large coalition of health care providers opposed the legislation.

Minimum wage increase – The House and Senate have both approved measures (HB 1 and SB 1) to increase Virginia’s minimum wage from $12.00 per hour to $13.50 per hour in 2025 and an additional increase to $15.00 per hour in 2026.

• These bills reflect the reenactment clause placed on the 2020 minimum wage increase whereby the General Assembly must formally approve the wage increases for 2025 and beyond.

Paid sick leave – Various paid sick leave proposals were continued, left in committee or killed by voice votes, ending their consideration for the year.