Updated: February 2, 2026
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.
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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); House Health and Human Services; House Social Services; Will be rolled in HB1284, see below
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); House Health and Human Services; House Social Services; Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (8-Y 0-N) (1/29)
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); House Courts of Justice; Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB548) (1/21)
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); House Health and Human Services; House Health Professions; Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (9-Y 0-N 1-A) (1/29)
HB917 – Compounding Pharmacies; Use of Bulk Drug Substances, Recordkeeping
Sponsor: Delegate Rodney T. Willett
HB917 establishes additional requirements governing when pharmacists may use bulk drug substances in compounding. The bill outlines specific prohibitions, including the use of bulk drug substances withdrawn from the market for safety or effectiveness reasons, substances covered under investigational new drug applications that have not been approved, and compounded drug products that are essentially copies of commercially available medications. The legislation also authorizes the Board of Pharmacy to request expanded records related to compounding practices.
Telehealth organizations in other states have raised concerns about similar legislation, citing potential impacts on patient access, medication availability, and logistical challenges related to prescribing, storage, and distribution of compounded medications, particularly for patients who rely on virtual care models.
Status: Referred to House Committee on Health and Human Services (1/13); House Health and Human Services; Continued to next session in Health and Human Services (Voice Vote) (1/27)
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); House Labor and Commerce; House Subcommittee #2; Subcommittee recommends continuing to (Voice Vote) (1/29); 02/03/26 half hour after adjournment of House in House Committee Room A – 008
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); House General Laws; House Professions/Occupations and Administrative Process; Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 0-N) (1/29)
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); House Health and Human Services; House Health Professions; Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (9-Y 1-N) (1/29)
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); House Health and Human Services; House Behavioral Health; Assigned sub: Behavioral Health (1/23)
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); House Appropriations; House Health & Human Resources; Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1245) (1/29)
HB1284 – Department Of Medical Assistance Services; State Plan For Medical Assistance; Patient-initiated Consultation; Provider-to-provider Consultation
Sponsor: Delegate Mark C. Downey
HB87 will be rolled into this bill. It will be narrowed to only include e-consults.
Status: Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services (1/14); House Health and Human Services; House Social Services; Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (8-Y 0-N) (1/29)
HB1428 – Services and Programs Available to Pregnant Women; Public Information Website
Sponsor: Delegate Timothy P. Griffin
HB1428 directs the Secretary of Health and Human Resources and the State Health Commissioner to establish, maintain, and annually update a public-facing website that provides information on public and private agencies, services, and programs available to pregnant women. By July 1, 2027, the website would include a portal allowing users to receive tailored pregnancy-related information and submit feedback on the portal’s usability and effectiveness.
Status: Assigned to House Health Subcommittee (1/30)
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); Senate Education and Health; House Education and Health; House Health 01/26/26 Sequence #27 in Senate Floor; Rereferred to Committee for Courts of Justice (1/27)
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); Senate Courts of Justice; Priority to defeat for numerous health care organizations; Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB99) (1/28)
SB421 – Remote Pharmacist Verification and Counseling in Opioid Treatment Programs
Sponsor: Senator Barbara A. Favola
SB421 authorizes a pharmacist licensed in the Commonwealth to perform verification, counseling, and supervision duties remotely when medication for the management of opioid use disorder is dispensed at a federally certified opioid treatment program. The bill allows these responsibilities to be carried out via remote means when a pharmacy technician or other authorized personnel is onsite.
Status: Referred to Senate Committee on Education and Health (1/13); Senate Education and Health; Assigned Education sub: Health Professions (1/30)
Telehealth-Related Budget Amendments
Item 186 #2s – Community Telepsychiatry Fellowship
Sponsor: Senator Creigh Deeds
This amendment provides $368,897 in General Fund support each year to establish and sustain a community telepsychiatry fellowship at the University of Virginia. The program would support training and workforce development to expand access to psychiatric care through telehealth.
House Companion: None
Item 216 #1s – Virginia Tech Patient Research Center Expansion
Sponsor: Senator Creigh Deeds
This amendment allocates $6.0 million in General Fund support in Year One and $12.0 million in Year Two to expand the Virginia Tech Patient Research Center. Funding would support increased access to clinical research, telehealth services, advanced treatment options, and workforce development in Southwest Virginia.
House Companion: None
Item 291 #20s – Telehealth Supervisory Visits for Personal Care Aides
Sponsor: Senator Lashrecse D. Aird
This amendment directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) to seek federal approval to permit registered nurse (RN) and licensed practical nurse (LPN) supervisory visits to be conducted via telehealth for personal care aides participating in the CCC Plus waiver. Implementation would occur upon federal approval.
House Companion: None
Item 291 #38s – Telehealth Care Coordination for Opioid and Substance Use Disorder Treatment
Sponsor: Senator Todd Pillion
This amendment directs DMAS to exempt certain opioid and substance use disorder treatment providers from documenting justification requirements for telehealth-delivered care coordination services.
House Companion: None
Item 291 #53s – Telemedicine Delivery of OBAT Services
Sponsor: Senator Todd Pillion
This amendment provides $250,000 General Fund and $250,000 Non-General Fund support in Year One, increasing to $1.0 million General Fund and $1.0 million Non-General Fund in Year Two. It authorizes office-based addiction treatment (OBAT) services under the Addiction and Recovery Treatment Services (ARTS) program to be delivered via telemedicine, with equivalent standards of care.
House Companion: None
Item 291 #54s – Reimbursement for Electronic Consults (e-Consults)
Sponsor: Senator Todd Pillion
This amendment provides funding and statutory language to reimburse health care providers for electronic consults (e-consults) delivered via telehealth. The proposal implements a recommendation from the Joint Commission on Health Care and aligns Medicaid reimbursement policy with existing utilization practices.
House Companion: Delegate Rodney T. Willett introduced identical language in the House of Delegates.
Item 299 #5s – School-Based Health Clinic Grants
Sponsor: Senator Barbara A. Favola
This amendment provides $15.0 million in General Fund support each year for grants to support school-based health clinics, including telehealth providers. Funding would prioritize underserved school divisions.
House Companion: None
Item 296 #1s – Rural Free Clinics and Connected Care
Sponsor: Senator Barbara A. Favola
This amendment directs DMAS to use $10.0 million in Non-General Fund support annually from the Rural Health Transformation Initiative to support the Connected Care, Closer to Home initiative through rural free clinics, including telehealth-enabled services.
House Companion: None
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.
