2010 Legislative Session

The Medical Society of Virginia's 2010 legislative agenda was created based on input from members, local medical societies and specialty medical societies from across the commonwealth and approved by both the MSV board of directors and house of delegates.

With a vision of making Virginia the best place in which to practice medicine, MSV works year-round to advance its health policy and legislative goals. However, MSV’s efforts at the General Assembly are of particular importance. The 2010 session will be no different. During this 60-day legislative session, MSV will review the thousands of bills introduced by legislators and will work diligently to protect physicians' interests. 

We encourage you to bookmark this Web page and refer to it often to keep abreast of the latest updates on MSV's priority issues. 

Click here to view the 2010 Legislative Preview (PDF).
Click here to view the 2010 Legislative Agenda.

Agenda Item	Latest Update	Backgrounder	Bills to Watch
Medicaid	21 January 2010 The House of Delegates Rules Studies subcommittee favorably reported HJR 127, which directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study Virginia's Medicaid program and identify opportunities to reduce waste, inefficiency, fraud and abuse.  The measure will be heard by the full Rules Committee next week.  Examining the Medicaid program for waste, fraud and abuse is a top health care-related priority for Gov. Bob McDonnell.  MSV supports this study resolution.		HJ 127-Support
Medical Malpractice	15 January 2010 Read MSV President Daniel Carey, M.D.'s update on the stakeholder talks among MSV, the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (VTLA) and the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association (VHHA).		HB 87-Oppose
Scope of Practice -  Naturopathic "Physicians"	21 January 2010 MSV President Daniel Carey, M.D., and MSV lead lobbyist Ann Hughes spoke against HJ 124 before the House Rules Studies subcommittee.  MSV cited the unproven treatment methods used by naturopathic" physicians" and noted that the education and training received by naturopathic "physicians" is not comparable to that of an M.D. or D.O. (more)		HJ 124-Oppose
Scope of Practice -  Nurse Practitioners	29 January 2010 The NP scope expansion bill, SB 263, will be heard by the Health Licensing subcommittee of the Senate Education and Health Committee on February 4.  MSV urges members to reach out to members of the Committee in opposition of the bill.   Click here to send a message to your senator.		SB 263-Oppose
Peer Review	8 February 2010 MSV is actively supporting HB 11, which would establish a requirement for a peer-to-peer reviews following a health plan or HMO's denial of coverage for a health care service. Presently, a health plan may use advisors or panels that are not specialist in the treating provider's field to make determinations on claims. HB 11 will be heard by the full House HWI Committee on Tuesday, February 9. The Virginia Association of Health Plans opposes the bill and has proposed new language favorable to its members.		HB 11 - Support
Mental Health	Updates will be posted here by the government affairs team as developments occur during the 2010 General Assembly.
Lyme Disease	2 February 2010 On February 1, subcommittee #1 of the Health, Welfare and Institutions committee passed a motion to "continue" the bills until 2011, a procedural move that ends consideration of the measures this session. The full committee affirmed this action the next day.  MSV appreciates the efforts of Harry Gewanter, M.D. and Donald Poretz, M.D., who spoke on behalf of MSV in opposition to the bills.		HB 36-Oppose HB 512-Oppose HB 897-Oppose HB 1017-Oppose HB 1288-Oppose
Access to Care	Updates will be posted here by the government affairs team as developments occur during the 2010 General Assembly.