VirginiaSB2572026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Health insurance; requirements for certain opioid antagonists.

Sponsored By: Barbara A. Favola (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Health insurance; requirements for certain opioid antagonists. Requires each health insurer, corporation providing health care subscription plans, and health maintenance organization whose policy, contract, or plan includes coverage for prescription drugs to include coverage for at least one opioid antagonist used for overdose reversal dispensed pursuant to an oral, written, or standing order of a prescriber and ensure that cost-sharing for at least one opioid antagonist used for overdose reversal is included on the lowest cost tier of the insurer's, corporation's, or health maintenance organization's prescription drug formulary. The bill provides that such coverage shall be exempt from any prior authorization or step therapy requirement on coverage of benefits. As introduced, this bill was a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care. This bill is identical to HB 795.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Most health plans cover overdose-reversal drugs

Beginning January 1, 2027, most individual and group health plans must cover at least one opioid overdose-reversal drug ordered by a prescriber. At least one of these drugs sits on the plan’s lowest cost tier. Plans cannot require prior authorization or step therapy for that drug. This law does not apply to short-term travel, accident-only, limited disease, Medicare-designed, or short-term nonrenewable policies of six months or less. In the individual and small group markets, this depends on the state’s essential health benefits. If that benchmark already includes the benefit, the separate mandate does not apply there.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Barbara A. Favola

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 286 • No: 4

House vote 3/12/2026

Passed House with substitute Block Vote

Yes: 96 • No: 0

Senate vote 3/12/2026

House substitute agreed to by Senate

Yes: 39 • No: 1

House vote 3/9/2026

Reported from Appropriations with substitute

Yes: 22 • No: 0

House vote 2/26/2026

Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute and referred to Appropriations

Yes: 21 • No: 0

House vote 2/24/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations

Yes: 6 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/16/2026

Read third time and passed Senate

Yes: 37 • No: 1

Senate vote 2/13/2026

Committee substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/12/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/12/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/11/2026

Reported from Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 15 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/2/2026

Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations

Yes: 10 • No: 2 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0424)

    4/8/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 424 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/8/2026Governor
  3. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB257)

    4/1/2026Senate
  4. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/31/2026Governor
  5. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

    3/31/2026Senate
  6. Signed by Speaker

    3/31/2026House
  7. Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB257ER)

    3/30/2026Senate
  8. Enrolled

    3/30/2026Senate
  9. Signed by President

    3/30/2026Senate
  10. House substitute agreed to by Senate (39-Y 1-N 0-A)

    3/12/2026Senate
  11. Passed House with substitute Block Vote (96-Y 0-N 0-A)

    3/12/2026House
  12. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

    3/12/2026House
  13. committee substitute agreed to

    3/12/2026House
  14. committee substitute rejected

    3/12/2026House
  15. Read third time

    3/12/2026House
  16. Read second time

    3/11/2026House
  17. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB257)

    3/10/2026Senate
  18. Committee substitute printed 26109143D-H2

    3/9/2026House
  19. Reported from Appropriations with substitute (22-Y 0-N)

    3/9/2026House
  20. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB257)

    3/4/2026Senate
  21. Committee substitute printed 26108572D-H1

    2/27/2026House
  22. Assigned HAPP sub: Health & Human Resources

    2/27/2026House
  23. Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute and referred to Appropriations (21-Y 0-N)

    2/26/2026House
  24. House subcommittee offered

    2/24/2026House
  25. Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (6-Y 0-N)

    2/24/2026House

Bill Text

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