A Legislative Update from MSV

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Below is the latest Legislative Update from MSV. Click here to view the continually-updated 2017 Legislative Agenda.

White Coats on Call

On Tuesday, MSV kicked off the first of four White Coats on Call Lobby days with 89 participants including radiologists, anesthesiologists, emergency room physicians, as well as groups from Arlington and Danville.  The group heard from Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam, M.D., who energized attendees before they headed over to the General Assembly building.  Members visited legislators on every floor of the building, lobbying on issues like COPN reform, opioid misuse, licensure parity, and step therapy.  A group of medical students had the honor of being introduced on the Senate floor by Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant, MD (R-Henrico), who welcomed all White Coats on Call attendees and thanked MSV for its activism. 

Legislation Updates – Bills supported by MSV

  • Del. John O’Bannon, MD’s (R-Henrico) COPN reform bill, HB 2337, was unanimously passed by a subcommittee of the House Health, Welfare, and Institutions committee and will now be heard by the full committee on Tues., Jan. 31.  His bill replaces the current COPN system with a permitting process that mirrors MSV policy, but only in areas that meet a certain population density threshold.
  • Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant, MD’s (R-Henrico) COPN reform bill, SB 1566, was heard in the COPN subcommittee of the Senate Education and Health committee on Fri., Jan. 27.  The subcommittee did not take a vote on any legislation, but is expected to meet again next week for a vote.
  • SB 1046, carried by Sen. Bill Stanley (R-Moneta) which would create licensure parity between U.S. and international medical school graduates passed the Senate 39-0.  HB 2277, the House version carried by Del. Danny Marshall (R-Danville), was passed unanimously by the House Health, Welfare, and Institutions committee and will now move to the House floor for a vote.
  • HB 2053, Del. Steve Landes’ (R-Weyers Cave) bill to stipulate that direct primary care agreements do not constitute insurance, passed the House Commerce and Labor committee and will now move to the House floor for a vote.   
  • Unfortunately, both the House and Senate versions of bills which would’ve created an expedited override process for step therapy failed in their respective committees.

Averted Legislation

  • HB 2042, carried by Del. Kathleen Murphy (D-McLean), would have required providers to take CME specifically on suicide prevention.  The MSV lobby team was able to work with Del. Murphy, offering to provide information on our website regarding suicide prevention, which she was happy to accept.  The bill was laid on the table in subcommittee.
  • HB1424, carried by Del. Mark Cole (R-Spotsylvania), would have required prescriptions to include on the label the reason the medication was prescribed. It was laid on the table in subcommittee.