Medicaid; program information, accessibility on every state agency or local government website.
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HB 987 — Medicaid; program information, accessibility on every state agency or local government website.
Last action — Enacted, Chapter 775 (effective 7/1/22)
No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed House of Delegates
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✓Passed Senate
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✓To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 12, 2022. Enacted.
Signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin (Republican) on April 27, 2022.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
HighHow often bills like it became law.
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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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3 sponsors
1 primary, 2 co-sponsors signed on.
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 11 recorded votes so far.
Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.
Summary
Medicaid; program information; accessibility. Directs the Board of Medical Assistance Services to require every person that provides program information to ensure that all program information, defined in the bill, be made available in a manner that is accessible to (i) individuals with limited English proficiency through the provision of language access services, including oral interpretation and written translations, and (ii) individuals with disabilities through the provision of auxiliary aids services, when doing so is a reasonable step to providing meaningful access to health care coverage. The bill provides that language access services and auxiliary aids services shall be provided free of charge to such individuals and that information regarding how to receive the language access services and auxiliary aids services shall be included with program information documents on a website maintained by the Department of Medical Assistance Services and on the website of every agency of the Commonwealth that disseminates program information. The bill also requires every person that makes program information available to use an objective readability measure approved by the Department to test the readability of its program information documents and requires such persons to make program information documents available to the Department for review upon request. Under current law, use of a specific readability formula is required and a minimum total readability score is prescribed.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
48 added · 50 removedPlain-language change summary
The updated version of HB 987 makes a few important changes regarding Medicaid program information. It now specifies that all communication about medical assistance services must be provided in plain language to ensure it's easily understandable. Additionally, the final text emphasizes the obligation to offer language services for individuals with limited English proficiency and auxiliary aids for people with disabilities. These changes matter because they aim to enhance accessibility and clarity, helping more Virginians effectively understand their healthcare options and rights.
RECONVENED SESSION REENROLLED VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY --–– 2022 RECONVENED SESSION CHAPTER 775R An Act to amend and reenact § 32.1-330.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Medicaid;
programprogramE information;
E N [H 987] ApprovedR AprilApproved 27, 2022 Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
O 1.
L § 32.1-330.2.
L A.
Whenever medical assistance services pursuant to this chapter are furnished through managedmanagEd care programs, the As used in this section, "program information" means all forms of communication that (i) are provided toby anythe personCommonwealth whopursuant isto anTitles applicantXIX forand orXXI aof recipientthe ofSocial medicalSecurity assistanceAct servicesand (ii)D describe eligibility requirements, available medical assistance services, and the rights andii)and responsibilities of recipients of medical assistance services provided by the Commonwealth pursuant to Titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act.
The Board of Medical Assistance Services shall require that all program information documents furnished recipients covered thereunder shall be written (i) communicated in nontechnical, readily understandable, plain language, using words of common, everyday usage and (ii) made available in a manner that is timely and accessible to (a) individuals with limited English proficiency through the provision of language access services, including oral interpretation and written translations, andBnd (b) individuals with disabilities through the provision of auxiliary aids services, when doing so isi8 a reasonable step to providing meaningful access to health care coverage.
A person that makes programproEram information available may consider resources, including staffing, available to such person and theRhe cost of responding to requests for language access or auxiliary aids services in determining the reasonableness2 ofreaC. making program information available pursuant to this subsection.
C.
B.program information shall use an objective readability measure approved by the Department to test the readability of its program information documents by use of the Flesch Readability Formula, as set forth in Rudolf Flesch, The Art of Readable Writing (1949, as revised 1974), and no program information document shall be used unless it achieves a Flesch total readability score of forty or more.
Each sponsor or administrator of any such managed care program D.
Every person that provides program information shall use an objective readability measure approved by the Department to test the readability of its program information documents by use of the Flesch Readability Formula, as set forth in Rudolf Flesch, The Art of Readable Writing (1949, as revised 1974), and no program information document shall be used unless it achieves a Flesch total readability score of forty or more.
C.thereto, shall be filed with made available for review upon the request of the Department of Medical Assistance Services in advance of their use and distribution, accompanied by certificates setting forth the Flesch scores and certifying compliance with the requirements of this section.
E.
All program information documents within the scope of this section, and all amendments thereto, shall be filed with made available for review upon the request of the Department of Medical Assistance Services in advance of their use and distribution, accompanied by certificates setting forth the Flesch scores and certifying compliance with the requirements of this section.
For the purpose of this section, the term "program information documents" means all forms, brochures, handbooks or other documentation (i) provided recipients covered under Medicaid managed care programs, and (ii) describing the programs' medical care coverages and the rights and responsibilities of recipients covered thereunder.
View plain text versions (5)
- HB987ER2 View text pdf April 27, 2022
- CHAP0775 View text Current pdf April 27, 2022
- HB987ER View text pdf March 11, 2022
- Engrossed Printed as engrossed 22103932D-E pdf February 14, 2022
- Prefiled Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/12/22 22103932D pdf January 12, 2022
Action History
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Enacted, Chapter 775 (effective 7/1/22)
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Signed by President as reenrolled
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Signed by Speaker as reenrolled
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Reenrolled bill text (HB987ER2)
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Reenrolled
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Governor's recommendation adopted
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Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation (40-Y 0-N)
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VOTE: Adoption (100-Y 0-N)
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House concurred in Governor's recommendation BLOCK VOTE (100-Y 0-N)
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Placed on Calendar
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Governor's recommendation received by House
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Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 11, 2022
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Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 22, 2022
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Impact statement from DPB (HB987ER)
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Signed by President
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Signed by Speaker
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Enrolled
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VOTE: Adoption (97-Y 0-N)
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Senate amendments agreed to by House (97-Y 0-N)
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Passed Senate with amendments (39-Y 0-N)
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Engrossed by Senate as amended
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Committee amendments agreed to
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Reading of amendments waived
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Read third time
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Constitutional reading dispensed (38-Y 0-N)
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Passed by for the day
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Reported from Education and Health with amendments (15-Y 0-N)
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Senate subcommittee amendments and substitutes offered
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Assigned Education sub: Health
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House committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered
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Referred to Committee on Education and Health
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Constitutional reading dispensed
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Impact statement from DPB (HB987E)
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VOTE: Block Vote Passage (100-Y 0-N)
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Read third time and passed House BLOCK VOTE (100-Y 0-N)
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Printed as engrossed 22103932D-E
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Engrossed by House as amended HB987E
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Committee amendment agreed to
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Read second time
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Read first time
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Reported from Appropriations with amendment(s) (22-Y 0-N)
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Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendments (8-Y 0-N)
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House subcommittee amendments and substitutes offered
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Assigned App. sub: Health & Human Resources
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Referred to Committee on Appropriations
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Reported from Health, Welfare and Institutions (22-Y 0-N)
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Subcommittee recommends referring to Committee on Appropriations
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Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 0-N)
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Impact statement from DPB (HB987)
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Assigned HWI sub: Subcommittee #3
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Referred to Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions
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Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/12/22 22103932D
Sponsors
- Kathy K.L. Tran · Primary
- Irene Shin · Cosponsor
- Mark L. Keam · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 2 co-sponsors · 145 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
Co-sponsors (2)
Not signed on (145)
145 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 145 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 99 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 99 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (99)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (40)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 96 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Total | 96 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| % of votes cast | 97% | 0% | 0% | 3% |
How each member voted (99)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 39 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 39 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 98% | 0% | 0% | 3% |
How each member voted (40)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 38 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 38 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| % of votes cast | 95% | 0% | 0% | 5% |
How each member voted (40)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (15)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Barker, George L. | — | Yea |
| Cosgrove, John A., Jr. | — | Yea |
| David R. Suetterlein | — | Yea |
| Dunnavant, Siobhan S. | — | Yea |
| Edwards, John S. | — | Yea |
| Hashmi, Ghazala F. | — | Yea |
| Howell, Janet D. | — | Yea |
| L. Louise Lucas | — | Yea |
| Lewis, Lynwood W., Jr. | — | Yea |
| Mamie E. Locke | — | Yea |
| Mark J. Peake | — | Yea |
| Newman, Stephen D. | — | Yea |
| Petersen, J. Chapman | — | Yea |
| Saslaw, Richard L. | — | Yea |
| Todd E. Pillion | — | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 99 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 99 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (99)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (22)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Betsy B. Carr | — | Yea |
| Bulova, David L. | — | Yea |
| C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. | — | Yea |
| Coyner, Carrie E. | — | Yea |
| David A. Reid | — | Yea |
| Davis, Glenn R. | — | Yea |
| Delores L. McQuinn | — | Yea |
| Emily M. Jordan | — | Yea |
| Fariss, C. Matthew | — | Yea |
| James W. Morefield | — | Yea |
| Knight, Barry D. | — | Yea |
| Luke E. Torian | — | Yea |
| M. Keith Hodges | — | Yea |
| Marshall, Daniel W., III | — | Yea |
| Paul E. Krizek | — | Yea |
| Plum, Kenneth R. | — | Yea |
| Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. | — | Yea |
| Sam Rasoul | — | Yea |
| Scott A. Wyatt | — | Yea |
| Sickles, Mark D. | — | Yea |
| Terry L. Austin | — | Yea |
| Wampler, William C., III | — | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (22)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| March, Marie E. | — | Yea |
| Adams, Dawn M. | — | Yea |
| Bell, Robert B. | — | Yea |
| C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. | — | Yea |
| Christopher T. Head | — | Yea |
| Edmunds, James E., II | — | Yea |
| Fariss, C. Matthew | — | Yea |
| Guzman, Elizabeth R. | — | Yea |
| H. Otto Wachsmann, Jr. | — | Yea |
| Hudson, Sally L. | — | Yea |
| Karrie K. Delaney | — | Yea |
| Kathy K.L. Tran | — | Yea |
| M. Keith Hodges | — | Yea |
| Marcia S. "Cia" Price | — | Yea |
| Mike A. Cherry | — | Yea |
| Orrock, Robert D., Sr. | — | Yea |
| Patrick A. Hope | — | Yea |
| Phillip A. Scott | — | Yea |
| Robinson, Roxann L. | — | Yea |
| Rodney T. Willett | — | Yea |
| Sickles, Mark D. | — | Yea |
| Wendell S. Walker | — | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 89% | 0% | 0% | 11% |
How each member voted (9)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Betsy B. Carr | — | Yea |
| Coyner, Carrie E. | — | Yea |
| Emily M. Jordan | — | Yea |
| Fariss, C. Matthew | — | Yea |
| Knight, Barry D. | — | Not Voting |
| M. Keith Hodges | — | Yea |
| Sam Rasoul | — | Yea |
| Sickles, Mark D. | — | Yea |
| Wampler, William C., III | — | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 83% | 0% | 0% | 17% |
How each member voted (6)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. | — | Yea |
| Christopher T. Head | — | Yea |
| Kathy K.L. Tran | — | Yea |
| Orrock, Robert D., Sr. | — | Yea |
| Robinson, Roxann L. | — | Yea |
| Wendell S. Walker | — | Not Voting |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does HB 987 do?
- Medicaid; program information; accessibility. Directs the Board of Medical Assistance Services to require every person that provides program information to ensure that all program information, defined in the bill, be made available in a manner that is accessible to (i) individuals with limited English proficiency through the provision of language access services, including oral interpretation and written translations, and (ii) individuals with disabilities through the provision of auxiliary aids services, when doing so is a reasonable step to providing meaningful access to health care coverage. The bill provides that language access services and auxiliary aids services shall be provided free of charge to such individuals and that information regarding how to receive the language access services and auxiliary aids services shall be included with program information documents on a website maintained by the Department of Medical Assistance Services and on the website of every agency of the Commonwealth that disseminates program information. The bill also requires every person that makes program information available to use an objective readability measure approved by the Department to test the readability of its program information documents and requires such persons to make program information documents available to the Department for review upon request. Under current law, use of a specific readability formula is required and a minimum total readability score is prescribed.
- Who sponsors HB 987?
- HB 987 is sponsored by Kathy K.L. Tran, Irene Shin, and Keam, Mark L..
- What is the current status of HB 987?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 12, 2022. Enacted.
- Where can I track HB 987?
- Track HB 987 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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