Bill Text: VA SB757 | 2020 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Medical Excellence Zone Program; VDH to determine feasibility of establishment.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)
Status: (Passed) 2020-03-10 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0236) [SB757 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2020-SB757-Chaptered.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. §1. That the Department of Health shall determine the feasibility of establishing a Medical Excellence Zone Program (the Program) to allow citizens of the Commonwealth living in rural underserved areas to receive medical treatment via telemedicine services as defined in § 38.2-3418.16 of the Code of Virginia. The Department shall set out the criteria that would be required for a locality or group of localities in the Commonwealth to be eligible for the designation as a medical excellence zone. Such criteria shall include that any locality or group of localities eligible for the Program must demonstrate economic disadvantage of residents in the proposed medical excellence zone. The Department of Health shall report its findings to the Senate Committee on Education and Health and the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions by November 1, 2020.
2. §1. That the Department of Health Professions shall pursue the establishment of reciprocal agreements with states that are contiguous with the Commonwealth for the licensure of doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathic medicine, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners. Reciprocal agreements shall only require that a person hold a current, unrestricted license in the other jurisdiction and that no grounds exist for denial based on §54.1-2915 of the Code of Virginia. The Department of Health Professions shall report on its progress in establishing such agreements to the Senate Committee on Education and Health and the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions by November 1, 2020.
3. §1. That the Board of Medicine shall prioritize applicants for licensure as a doctor of medicine or osteopathic medicine, a physician assistant, or a nurse practitioner from such states that are contiguous with the Commonwealth in processing their applications for licensure by endorsement through a streamlined process, with a final determination regarding qualification to be made within 20 days of the receipt of a completed application.
