All Roll Calls
Yes: 425 • No: 45
Sponsored By: R. Creigh Deeds (Democratic)
Became Law
Mental health and substance abuse disorders; network adequacy standards; comparative analyses; report; emergency regulations. Directs the Department of Health to issue regulations that include quantitative network adequacy standards for timely access to care, travel time, and geographical distance that are at least as stringent as those imposed for qualified health plans and qualified dental plans. The bill amends the definitions of "mental health services" and "substance abuse services" for the purposes of health insurance coverage.The bill requires health carriers to submit all comparative analyses prepared pursuant to federal law to the Bureau of Insurance on the date and frequency as specified by the Bureau and includes additional information to include in such submission. Under the bill, the Bureau may impose a penalty not to exceed $100,000 for a noncompliant or insufficient comparative analysis or require a carrier to remove, revise, or remedy noncompliant treatment limitations. The bill also amends the contents of the annual report submitted by the Bureau to the General Assembly to cover enforcement efforts with respect to the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.The bill authorizes the Bureau to promulgate regulations as necessary to implement the provisions of the bill and directs the Department of Health to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill. The bill directs the Department of Human Resource Management to evaluate the impact of the proposed changes to the provisions of the bill related to health insurance. The provisions of the bill related to health insurance have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027. This bill is identical to HB 656.
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5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Health plans must cover mental health and substance use care the same as medical care for kids, teens, and adults. Plans must cover mobile crisis response and residential stabilization like the same services in other settings. Reviews must follow generally accepted care standards, not stricter rules. Insurers must file parity analyses at least every two years and share data on denials, prior authorizations, networks, and pay. The Bureau can post reports, open exams, and fine up to $100,000 per violation or order fixes. By October 1, 2026, carriers must submit current analyses; starting December 1, 2027 and every odd year, the Bureau posts a public report. Some definition updates take effect July 1, 2027.
The Board of Health must set numeric standards for timely access, travel time, and distance for managed care plans. These standards must be at least as strict as those for qualified health and dental plans. The Board must adopt the rules within 280 days. The Board can later align updates to exchange standards faster, with public comment.
Virginia creates an All‑Payer Claims Database to collect paid health claims and support cost and quality comparisons. Insurers, HMOs, large TPAs (1,000+ covered lives), and government plans submit data when allowed by law. The operator sets standard agreements, data fields, and national data layouts. The database supports comparisons by place, demographics, and peer groups, and publishes plan‑level analyses. The APCD does not collect Medigap, workers’ comp, disability income, standard long‑term care, disease‑specific, dental, or vision claims.
If you are in a grandfathered small‑group plan, adults get at least 20 inpatient days a year. Children and teens get at least 25 inpatient days. Up to 10 inpatient days can convert to partial hospitalization at 1.5 partial days per 1 inpatient day. Plans must cover at least 20 outpatient visits a year. After the first five outpatient visits, you pay at least 50% coinsurance; medication management visits do not count toward the 20‑visit cap. Outpatient visits that go to your deductible do not count against the visit limit.
The APCD operator must protect patient data under HIPAA and HITECH, and the Department acts as a health oversight agency. Provider, facility, and insurer reimbursement amounts cannot be publicly released, and methods must follow national standards or be fully explained. A broad advisory committee guides the APCD, appointments must avoid conflicts, meetings are public, and the operator reports to the committee each year.
R. Creigh Deeds
Democratic • Senate
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
All Roll Calls
Yes: 425 • No: 45
House vote • 3/13/2026
Conference report agreed to by House
Yes: 93 • No: 1
Senate vote • 3/13/2026
Conference report agreed to by Senate
Yes: 38 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/6/2026
Senate acceded to request Block Vote
Yes: 40 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/3/2026
House substitute rejected by Senate
Yes: 0 • No: 40
House vote • 2/27/2026
Passed House with substitute
Yes: 92 • No: 4
House vote • 2/24/2026
Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute
Yes: 21 • No: 0 • Other: 1
Senate vote • 2/16/2026
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading)
Yes: 39 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/16/2026
Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/16/2026
Education and Health Substitute rejected
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/16/2026
Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote
Yes: 39 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/13/2026
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading)
Yes: 35 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/12/2026
Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute
Yes: 13 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/5/2026
Reported from Education and Health with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations
Yes: 15 • No: 0
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0653)
Approved by Governor-Chapter 653 (Effective - see bill)
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB524)
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026
Signed by Speaker
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB524ER)
Enrolled
Signed by President
Conference report agreed to by House (93-Y 1-N 0-A)
Conference report agreed to by Senate (38-Y 0-N 0-A)
Conference Report released
House Conferees: Willett, Gardner, Cherry
Conferees appointed by House
Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Senate Conferees: Deeds, Favola, Pillion
Conferees appointed by Senate
House requested conference committee
House insisted on substitute
House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)
Passed House with substitute (92-Y 4-N 0-A)
Engrossed by House - committee substitute
committee substitute agreed to
Read third time
Read second time
Chaptered
4/13/2026
Enrolled
3/30/2026
Conference Report
3/12/2026
Substitute
2/24/2026
Substitute
2/13/2026
Substitute
2/6/2026
Substitute
2/5/2026
Substitute
2/3/2026
Introduced
1/13/2026
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