Legislation Effective July 1, 2012
July 26, 2012 - By Karen Remley, MD, VA State Health Commissioner• HB74 – Mandatory reporting of child abuse, maximum time period within which to report - Establishes the maximum allowed time frame for mandated reporters for child abuse to submit reports as 24 hours.
• HB83/SB544 – Mammogram reporting - Requires the Board of Health to prepare guidelines for the inclusion of breast density information in letters sent to patients informing them of their mammogram results. These guidelines can be found in at http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/Administration/meetings/documents
.
• HB829 – Electronic linkages to the Virginia Immunization Information System (VIIS) - Authorizes the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) to establish linkages between VIIS and the newborn screening, hearing screening and blood lead level databases. VDH will work with the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services to develop a memorandum of understanding in order to link VIIS and the newborn screening database.
• HB1107/SB656 – Administration of Epinephrine in Public Schools - Requires local school boards to develop and implement policies for the possession and administration of epinephrine in every school, to be administered by a school nurse or an employee of the school board who is authorized and trained in the administration of epinephrine. The legislation also requires VDH, in cooperation with the Department of Health Professions and the Department of Education, to convene a work group to develop revisions to Virginia’s School Health Guidelines concerning the treatment of anaphylaxis in the school setting.
• HB183 – Medicaid Eligibility expansion for certain legal immigrants - Provides Medicaid coverage for legal immigrant pregnant women, and FAMIS coverage for legal immigrant children and pregnant women, during their first five years of lawful residence in the United States. VDH will ensure local health departments are aware of this expanded coverage, and that they bill appropriately for services provided to this population.
• HB462 – Informed Consent for Abortion/ultrasound - Requires that, as a component of informed consent to an abortion, every pregnant female shall undergo transabdominal ultrasound and be given an opportunity to view the image prior to the abortion. The medical professional performing the ultrasound must obtain written certification from the woman that the opportunity was offered. A copy of the ultrasound and the written certification shall be kept in the woman's medical records. This legislation also requires that VDH compile and disseminate a list of health care providers that offer ultrasound services at no cost and this information is available at http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/ofhs
.
• SB146 – Remote Supervision of VDH dental hygienists - Authorizes VDH dental hygienists statewide to provide preventive services under the remote supervision of a dentist. The legislation requires the Board of Dentistry to adopt the practice protocol that guides this activity, currently used in LENOWISCO, Cumberland Plateau and Southside Health Districts, as a regulation.
