HB 2183 (Yost) directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to convene a workgroup to develop processes for streamlining Medicaid enrollment for eligible jail inmates. This work will build upon current efforts to obtain Medicaid coverage for inpatient services for eligible inmates, which has the potential to save localities significant dollars in medical costs, as discussed in a recent article in County Connections. HB 2183 passed the House unanimously and was reported from the Senate Education and Health Committee to the Senate floor this week.
Also on the Senate floor is HB 1728 (Ransone), which directs the Virginia Department of Health to convene a workgroup to review the use of air ambulance services, including issues surrounding billing for those services. Problems surrounding availability and costs of these services in rural areas were the subject of discussion at VACo meetings last fall.
Most of the study resolutions that were introduced this year have failed to advance, as the House Rules Committee tabled nearly all study measures, and the Senate Rules Committee reported only a handful of bills directing studies.
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VACo Contact: Katie Boyle