VirginiaMental health & substance abuse disorders; network adequacy standards, comparative analyses, report.
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.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.
More detail
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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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 13Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0653)Latest
- Apr 13Approved by Governor Abigail Spanberger-Chapter 653 (effective 7/1/2026)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 (SB524)
- Mar 30Signed by PresidentMajor
- Mar 30Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB524ER)Major
- Mar 30EnrolledMinor
- Mar 13Conference report agreed to by House (93-Y 1-N 0-A)Minor
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Adopt Conference Committee Report R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 13Conference report agreed to by Senate (38-Y 0-N 0-A)Minor
- Mar 12Conference Report released
- Mar 11House Conferees: Willett, Gardner, Cherry
- Mar 11Conferees appointed by House
- Mar 6Senate Conferees: Deeds, Favola, Pillion
- Vote recorded Accede Conference Committee R. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 6Conferees appointed by Senate
- Mar 6Senate acceded to request (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Mar 4House requested conference committeeMinor
- Mar 4House insisted on substituteMajor
- Mar 3House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)
- Vote recorded Concur House Substitute R. Result: fail.Upper
- Feb 27Passed House with substitute (92-Y 4-N 0-A)Passed House
- Vote recorded H VOTE:. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 27Engrossed by House - committee substituteMajor
- Feb 27committee substitute agreed toMajor
- Feb 27Read third timeMinor
- Feb 26Read second timeMinor
- Feb 25Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB524)
- Feb 24Committee substitute printed 26108521D-H1Major
- Vote recorded Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 24Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute (21-Y 0-N 1-A)Minor
- Feb 19Referred to Committee on Health and Human ServicesMinor
- Feb 19Read first timeMinor
- Feb 19Placed on Calendar
- Feb 17Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB524)
- Feb 16Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A)Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed (on 3rd reading). Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Passage R. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 16Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Feb 16Rules suspended
- Feb 16Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute Block Vote (Voice Vote)Major
- Feb 16Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to
- Feb 16Education and Health Substitute rejected
- Feb 16Read second timeMinor
- Feb 13Committee substitute printed 26107859D-S2Major
- Vote recorded Constitutional reading dispensed R. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 13Passed by for the day
- Feb 13Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB524)
- Feb 13Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (35-Y 0-N 0-A)
- Feb 13Rules suspended
- Feb 12Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (13-Y 0-N)Minor
- Vote recorded Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 6Committee substitute printed 26107207D-S1Major
- Feb 5Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB524)
- Vote recorded Reported from Education and Health with substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 5Senate committee offered
- Feb 5Reported from Education and Health with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)Minor
- Feb 3Senate subcommittee offered
- Jan 27Assigned Education sub: HealthMinor
- Jan 13Referred to Committee on Education and HealthMinor
- Jan 13Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102638DIntroduced