Gov. Glenn Youngkin has called for legislators to return to Richmond on April 4 for a special session to finalize the budget and work on finalizing over 40 bills.

With respect to VHCA-VCAL’s priorities, we are awaiting news on the resolution of the differences in approaches to providing additional funds for the Medicaid Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program. The House budget proposed $50 million per year in funding for the Medicaid NF VBP Program (this is in addition to the $93 million already appropriated for the program last year). The Senate budget includes language directing nearly $39 million in the second year of the budget “to ensure certified nursing facilities are reimbursed for meeting a minimum staffing standard for total nurse staffing and registered nurse staffing hours.” 

VHCA-VCAL has met with all the budget conferees to advocate for the House approach, expressed opposition to the Senate budget staffing language, and provided key conferees proposed alternate language to meet the Senate’s intent through the VBP Program by clarifying that the goal is to increase VBP Program funding, which would provide more resources for staffing costs.

The House and Senate have yet to come to agreement over proposed tax cuts and use of surplus funding for taxpayer rebates. Unless waived, General Assembly rules require that legislators have 48 hours to review the budget before voting on it. Whether the budget will be finalized before April 4 is unknown.