Authority: §§ 32.1-102.1 through 32.1-102.11; 32.1-122.01 through 32.1-122.08; and 32.1-123 through 32.1-138.5, Code of Virginia; and P.L. 96-79, as amended, Federal Code; and Title XVIII and Title XIX of the U.S. Social Security Act, Federal Code.

A.1. Supplemental funding for the regional health planning agencies shall be provided from special funds from Certificate of Public Need (40608) application fees in excess of those required to operate the COPN Program, provided the program may retain special fund balances each year equal to three months operational needs in case of revenue shortfalls in the subsequent year.

2. The Department of Health shall revise annual agreements with the regional health planning agencies to require an annual independent financial audit to examine the use of state funds and the reasonableness of those expenditures.

3. Failure of any regional health planning agency to establish or sustain business operations shall cause funds to revert to the Central Office to support health planning and Certificate of Public Need functions.

B. Out of this appropriation, $690,000 the first year and $690,000 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to the Virginia Office of Rural Health, as the state match for the federal Office of Rural Health Policy Grant.

C. Out of this appropriation, $278,000 the first year and $278,000 the second year shall be provided to the department from statewide indirect cost recoveries to match federal funds and support the programs of the Office of Licensure and Certification. Amounts recovered in excess of the special fund appropriation shall be deposited to the general fund.

D. The Virginia Department of Health in collaboration with the Department of Health Professions shall issue risk mitigation guidelines on the prescription of the class of potent pain medicines known as extended-release and long-acting (ER/LA) opioid analgesics to include co-prescription of an opioid antagonist, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for administration by family members or caregivers in a non-medically supervised environment.

E. The Virginia Department of Health shall provide administrative and technical support to the Virginia Partners in Prayer Program through its Office of Health Equity. The cost of this support is estimated to be approximately $20,000 per year and shall be funded within its existing appropriation.

F. The provisions of § 32.1-102.4 (B), Code of Virginia, shall not apply to nursing homes.

G. Out of this appropriation, $60,000 the first year and $60,000 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to contract with the Virginia Telehealth Network to provide consultation to advisory groups, track implementation and facilitate changes to the Statewide Telehealth Plan.

H. Out of this appropriation, $319,883 the first year and $319,883 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to administer uniform options for intermediate disciplinary actions on hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, home care organizations, managed care health insurance plan licensees, and private review agents.

I. Prior to the Board of Health establishment of or changes to the fees for the issuance, change or renewal of a nursing home license to cover the cost of operating the hospital and nursing home licensure and inspection program, the Commissioner of Health shall convene a stakeholder meeting to examine options for phasing in changes in fees to mitigate the impact on nursing homes, including options which would include state support.