The Virginia Telehealth Network (VTN) is actively monitoring legislation during the 2026 Virginia General Assembly that could impact telehealth policy, access to care, and the health care workforce across the Commonwealth. This post serves as a living resource, providing timely updates as bills move through the House and Senate during the Session.
This year’s legislation touches on a range of issues related to telehealth and health care delivery, including Medicaid coverage and reimbursement, remote patient monitoring, professional licensure, workforce requirements, and patient protections. With many new legislators joining the General Assembly through special elections, cabinet appointments, and staff transitions, the policy landscape is evolving quickly. Click here to meet the new faces shaping health policy in Virginia.
VTN will continue updating this page as bills advance. If you’d like to receive legislative updates directly in your inbox, sign up for our email updates here.
Interested in supporting VTN’s efforts? Scroll to the bottom of this post to learn more.
Telehealth-Related Bills We’re Monitoring
HB87 – State Plan for Medical Assistance; Patient-Initiated Consultation, Provider-to-Provider Consultation
Sponsor: Delegate Amy J. Laufer
HB87 directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) to modify the state Medicaid plan to include patient-initiated consultations in addition to provider-to-provider consultations. The bill specifies that consultations delivered through telemedicine, including audio-only services where appropriate, must be included.
Status: Referred to House Committee on Health and Human Services (1/1)
HB425 – Remote Monitoring Services for Pregnant and Postpartum Patients; Reimbursement
Sponsor: Delegate Destiny LeVere Bolling
HB425 expands Medicaid reimbursement for remote patient monitoring services provided via telemedicine to include all pregnant and postpartum individuals. Under current law, coverage is limited to high-risk pregnancies.
Status: Committee referral pending (1/12)
HB548 – Uniform Health Care Decisions Act; Civil Penalty
Sponsor: Delegate Patrick A. Hope
HB548 repeals most provisions of the existing Health Care Decisions Act and replaces it with the Uniform Health Care Decisions Act. It establishes updated standards for advance health care directives, capacity determinations, default surrogate decision-making, and the powers and duties of health care agents.
Status: Fiscal impact statement from VCSC received (1/13)
HB782 – Health Care Providers; Caller Identification Information; Civil Penalty
Sponsor: Delegate C.E. “Cliff” Hayes, Jr.
HB782 requires health care providers to ensure that caller identification information clearly identifies their practice when making telephone calls to patients. The bill also establishes civil penalties for knowingly displaying false caller ID information.
Status: Committee referral pending (1/13)
HB949 – Covenants Not to Compete; Exceptions; Civil Penalty
Sponsor: Delegate Alfonso H. Lopez
HB949 prohibits employers from entering into or enforcing non-compete agreements with certain employees, while allowing limited non-solicitation agreements. The bill updates existing penalty provisions related to non-compete enforcement.
Status: Committee referral pending (1/13)
HB978 – Taxation in the Commonwealth
Sponsor: Delegate Vivian E. Watts
HB978 proposes expanding the retail sales and use tax to a wide range of services, including certain nonmedical personal services and counseling. While not telehealth-specific, the bill could have downstream implications for service-based health care delivery models.
Status: Committee referral pending (1/13)
HB1117 – Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation; Universal License Recognition
Sponsor: Delegate May Nivar
HB1117 reduces the required out-of-state licensure period from three years to one year for professionals seeking licensure in Virginia under the universal license recognition program, potentially easing workforce entry barriers.
Status: Committee referral pending (1/14)
HB1147 – Board of Medicine and Board of Nursing; Continuing Education; Bias Reduction Training
Sponsor: Delegate C.E. “Cliff” Hayes, Jr.
HB1147 directs the Board of Medicine and Board of Nursing to require certain licensees to complete continuing education focused on bias reduction in health care as part of licensure and competency requirements.
Status: Committee referral pending (1/14)
HB1223 – Health Professionals; Mandatory Suicide Training Required
Sponsor: Delegate Karrie K. Delaney
HB 1223 requires a range of health care professionals to complete periodic training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management, with varying timelines depending on profession.
Status: Committee referral pending (1/14)
HB1245 – Virginia Health Care Fund; Additional Funding and Uses; Emergency
Sponsor: Delegate Rozia A. Henson, Jr.
HB1245 expands allowable funding sources for the Virginia Health Care Fund and broadens its use to support organizations providing or expanding health care services to populations protected under the Virginia Human Rights Act. The bill includes an emergency clause.
Status: Committee referral pending (1/14)
HB1248 – Virginia Creative Economy Grant Program Established
Sponsor: Delegate Jackie H. Glass
HB1248 establishes a grant program to support independent content creators and creative economy entrepreneurs. While not health-specific, it may intersect with digital health education and outreach initiatives.
Status: Committee referral pending (1/14)
SB71 – Health Care Decisions Act; Patients Incapable of Making Informed Decisions, Absence of Next of Kin
Sponsor: Senator Barbara A. Favola
SB71 authorizes patient care consulting committees to make health care decisions for individuals who are incapable of informed decision-making when no next of kin is reasonably available.
Status: Referred to Senate Committee on Education and Health (12/17)
SB99 – Medical Malpractice; Limitations on Recovery, Certain Actions
Sponsor: Senator William M. Stanley, Jr.
SB99 removes the cap on recovery in medical malpractice cases involving patients age 10 or younger for acts occurring on or after July 1, 2026.
Status: Referred to Senate Committee for Courts of Justice (12/31)
SB199 – Employment; Paid Sick Leave; Civil Penalties
Sponsor: Senator Barbara A. Favola
SB199 expands paid sick leave requirements beyond home health workers to include employees of certain private employers and state and local governments, with provisions for fee-for-service workers.
Status: Referred to Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor (1/9)
Supporting VTN’s Advocacy Work
VTN is a nonprofit organization committed to advancing telehealth policy and access to care across the Commonwealth. We work closely with a contracted lobbyist to monitor legislation, engage policymakers, and advocate for thoughtful, evidence-based telehealth solutions during each General Assembly session.
As a small and nimble team, VTN relies on the support of partners and stakeholders to sustain this work. If you value timely legislative updates and effective telehealth advocacy, please consider making a one-time or recurring donation to support our efforts.
