Stanley provides update on key crossover legislation

This week in Richmond we worked feverishly to finish our work in the Virginia Senate before “crossover,” the annual event where bills that have been passed in the full Senate and House of Delegates are sent to the opposite chamber for consideration.

Only those bills that pass from both the House and the Senate are then sent on to the governor for his signature or veto.Senate Bill 713: Patient-Centered Medical Home Advisory Council. Establishes the Patient-Centered Medical Home Advisory Council (Council) as an advisory council in the executive branch.

The bill requires the Council to advise and make recommendations to the Department of Medical Assistance Services on reforms to the commonwealth’s existing Medicaid program that would increase the quality of care while containing costs through a patient-centered medical home system.

The bill defines a patient-centered medical home as a team approach to providing health care that (i) originates in a primary care setting; (ii) fosters a partnership among the patient, the personal provider and other health care professionals, and, where appropriate, the patient’s family; (iii) utilizes the partnership to access all medical and nonmedical health-related services needed by the patient to achieve maximum health potential; and (iv) maintains a centralized, comprehensive record of all health-related services to promote continuity of care. Passed Senate along a party-line vote, 21-18.