Last updated March 10, 2025
Below are Catalyst's priorities for this session. If you have any questions regarding the legislative session, please contact Ben Barber, VP of Policy, at bbarber@vahealthcatalyst.org.
If you were unable to attend our “Federal & State Health Policy Landscape Webinar" on Wednesday, March 5, you can view a recording of the session here (Passcode: bs8Es7+x). You can also find the webinar slides available here. The session discussed current federal policy proposals and their potential impacts on Virginians. Additionally, it provided a recap of Virginia’s legislative session, detailing the implications of the state legislature’s actions for oral and overall health in the Commonwealth.
POLICY PRIORITIES AND THEIR STATUS
Fund a Virginia Oral Health Loan Repayment program (Not included in the legislature’s budget)
This proposal (Del. Willett & Sen. VanValkenburg) would have invested $1.6 million to fund loan repayment awards for up to 20 dentists and 20 dental hygienists each year. In return, participating providers would be required to practice in an underserved area for at least two years at a safety net clinic or private practice that accepts Medicaid patients.
Increase support for VCCS dental hygiene programs (Not included in the legislature’s budget)
This proposal (Del. Laufer) would have invested $980,000 to increase the compensation of full-time and part-time faculty by 20 percent at all VCCS dental hygiene programs. It would have also provided support to Danville Community College to recruit and retain a registered dental hygienist for their dental hygiene faculty and provide support for VCCS to hire a contractor to develop long-term strategies to expand VCCS dental hygiene programs.
Strengthen school-based health programs (The legislature’s budget does not include Delegate Laufer’s proposed language, but it does include language making it easier for schools to provide care via telehealth and mobile health clinics)
Del. Laufer proposed budget language to provide school-based health care programs funded by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services flexibility on how they deliver health care services and what populations they serve in addition to students. It would also require the Department to collaborate with the Department of Education to analyze existing school-based health programs in the Commonwealth and propose recommendations to evaluate school-based health programs’ effectiveness, sustain and replicate successful models, and expand the services these programs provide.
Support Safety Net Clinics (The legislature’s budget includes $500,000 for free clinics, $500,000 for FQHCs, and $1 million for a non-emergency medical transportation pilot program for uninsured Virginians living in medically underserved areas in an FQHC’s catchment area)
This proposal (Del. Willett, Sen. VanValkenburg, and Sen. Deeds) will increase our support for safety net clinics, including FQHC and free and charitable clinics. This funding will help support essential medical, dental, vision, speech, hearing, and behavioral health care services. It also covers prescription medications and substance use disorder services for the uninsured or underinsured, ensuring they receive the care they need.
Make a Plan to Preserve Care (Not included in the legislature’s budget. However, the legislature’s budget does include language that acknowledges the need to address federal policy proposals that could significantly impact Medicaid funding in the Commonwealth.)
Medicaid is the public health insurance program for many low-income and disabled Americans. Congress is considering proposals to reduce the federal government’s financial contribution to the program. Reducing this contribution could put coverage at risk for over 600,000 Virginians. The Senate budget included language that requires legislators to explore options to preserve Medicaid for the expansion population - acknowledging policy proposals circulating at the federal level that would drastically impact funding for Medicaid.
Design a Medicaid benefit for community health workers (Not included in the legislature’s budget)
This proposal (Del. Sickles & Sen. Pillion) would have enabled the Virginia State Medicaid agency to design a Medicaid benefit for community health workers. This would have cost $250,000.
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