VirginiaMental health & substance abuse disorders; network adequacy standards, comparative analyses.
What it does
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.
More detail
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 SB 524.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 13Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0652)Latest
- Apr 13Approved by Governor Abigail Spanberger-Chapter 652 (Effective - see bill)Became Law
- Mar 31Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026To Governor
- Mar 31Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026Minor
- Mar 31Signed by SpeakerMajor
- Mar 31Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB656)
- Mar 30Signed by PresidentMajor
- Mar 30Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB656ER)Major
- Mar 30EnrolledMinor
- Mar 11Senate substitute agreed to by House (92-Y 6-N 0-A)Major
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 10Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 10Engrossed by Senate - committee substituteMajor
- Mar 10Education and Health Substitute agreed to
- Mar 10Read third timeMinor
- Mar 9Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 9Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Mar 9Rules suspended
- Mar 6Reported from Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Finance and Appropriations. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 3Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB656)
- Feb 27Committee substitute printed 26108828D-S1Major
- Feb 26Reported from Education and Health with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Education and Health with substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 17Referred to Committee on Education and HealthMinor
- Feb 17Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- Feb 16Read third time and passed House (95-Y 3-N 0-A)Passed House
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 16Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB656)
- Feb 13Engrossed by House - committee substituteMajor
- Feb 13committee substitute agreed toMajor
- Feb 13Read second timeMinor
- Feb 12Read first timeMinor
- Feb 10Committee substitute printed 26106935D-H1Major
- Vote recorded Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 10Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute (21-Y 1-N)Minor
- Feb 5Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB656)
- Vote recorded Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 5Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 1-N)Major
- Feb 4House subcommittee offered
- Jan 21Assigned sub: Behavioral HealthMinor
- Jan 13Referred to Committee on Health and Human ServicesMinor
- Jan 13Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104547DIntroduced