Joint Commission on Health Care Meets

VHCA (5/28/2010)

The Joint Commission on Health Care met this week to elect new leadership and determine its work plan for the year.  Delegate Ben Cline (R-Amherst) was elected Chairman and Senator Toddy Puller (D-Fairfax) was elected Vice Chairman.

The most critical issues the Commission must address this year are the many legislative and policy issues surrounding the implementation of the recently passed federal health reform act, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).  The PPACA will take several years to implement.  CMS is just beginning to work on the regulatory changes at the federal level, and the McDonnell Administration is in frequent contact with CMS to understand and address the changes the Commonwealth must make.  The Commission staff presented an overview of the major components of federal health reform.  Click here to see the presentation.

Secretary Bill Hazel told the Commission he will establish a workgroup within his office to focus on the requirements presented by the health reform legislation.  The Secretary is working closely with the State Corporation Commission’s Bureau of Insurance on the insurance coverage changes. 

Secretary Hazel will brief the Commission at least twice this year on health reform activities.  He said the most challenging issues for the State are (1) preparing for the huge increase in the number of Virginians that will be eligible for Medicaid over the next few years, (2) the increase in Medicaid funding required, and (3) the health workforce that will be needed to deliver the care promised by health care reform.

Commission members said they will want to hear from all sectors that will be affected by health care reform, including health care providers.