Members of the Joint Commission on Health Care held the Commission’s first meeting of the year on May 7. Members selected Senator Barbara Favola as Chair and Delegate Patrick Hope as Vice-Chair; reviewed study projects currently underway and issues that were referred to the Commission during the General Assembly session; received an update on the fate of Commission-endorsed legislation and budget initiatives; and discussed a proposed plan for the closure of Hiram Davis Medical Center.
The Commission previously directed three limited-scope studies, and staff plans to present findings in June and July, at which time the Commission could request a more robust review of the topics. Staff plans to present information on the public health impacts of e-cigarette use and e-cigarette retailers, as well as a report on the finances of rural hospitals, at the June meeting; a briefing on the impact of HR 1 on Virginia’s Medicaid program is scheduled for July. Two bills enacted this session require the Commission to review aspects of the nursing facility system in Virginia, with a study of nursing facility staffing due in December 2026, and a broader analysis of care quality and operations due in December 2027. In addition, several pieces of legislation that did not pass were referred to the Commission for potential action, including a study of the creation of a system for review of medical errors; a review of the oversight of providers licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; and a potential change to the implementation of certain regulations on the retail sale of nicotine vapor products. The Commission will adopt a 2026 work plan in June. Staff’s presentation is available at this link.
Commission members spent a significant portion of the meeting receiving and discussing a briefing by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services on the planned closure of Hiram Davis Medical Center, a facility that serves patients with serious mental illness, intellectual or developmental disabilities, and other complex needs. The Department began the process of convening a community team to plan for the facility’s closure in 2024 due to concerns about its age and condition. By statute, the team developing a closure plan must present the plan to the Commission for its review and recommendation at least nine months prior to any proposed closure or conversion; although the final decision rests with the Governor and the General Assembly, the Commission is responsible for making a recommendation on the plan at least six months prior to closure or conversion. The Department submitted its plan in late 2025; this plan recommends the closure of the facility by the end of 2027. As of the end of April, 32 patients reside in the facility, with eight discharges planned; the remaining 23 individuals are anticipated to choose placements at Southeast Virginia Training Center, group homes, or other community placements. Commission members expressed reservations about the closure plan, citing reluctance to disrupt care arrangements for patients, and requested an opportunity to hear directly from family members of individuals currently served at the facility. Commission staff will arrange for a tour of the facility and an opportunity for a public hearing in June.
VACo Contact: Katie Boyle