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HB1452 • 2026

Medicaid; expedited review process for service authorization requests, report.

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 32.1-325.1:2, relating to Department of Medical Assistance Services; expedited review process for Medicaid service authorization requests; report.

Healthcare
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Anthony
Last action
2026-04-06
Official status
Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on the effective date of this act.

Medicaid Service Review Speed-Up

This act requires Virginia's Department of Medical Assistance Services to review Medicaid service requests faster and report annually on these reviews.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Department of Medical Assistance Services to implement expedited review of Medicaid service authorization requests consistent with applicable federal law.
  • Directs the department to send an annual report about its Medicaid service authorization process to certain state committee chairs.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who use Medicaid and need service authorizations
  • The Department of Medical Assistance Services in Virginia

Terms To Know

Medicaid
A government program that helps pay for medical care for certain people, like those with low income.
Prior Authorization Report
An annual report about how Medicaid service requests are handled and reviewed.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not guarantee approval of any service request.
  • Does not create new rights for people seeking services.
  • Does not expand the types of services covered by Medicaid.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 314 (effective 7/1/2026)

  2. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 314 (effective 7/1/2026)

  3. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0314)

  4. 2026-03-10 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

  5. 2026-03-10 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  6. 2026-03-09 House

    Signed by Speaker

  7. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Signed by President

  8. 2026-03-09 House

    Enrolled

  9. 2026-03-09 House

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1452ER)

  10. 2026-03-09 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1452)

  11. 2026-03-02 Senate

    Read third time

  12. 2026-03-02 Senate

    Passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  13. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Rules suspended

  14. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  15. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  16. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)

  17. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  18. 2026-02-26 Education and Health

    Reported from Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)

  19. 2026-02-24 Health

    Assigned Education sub: Health

  20. 2026-02-18 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  21. 2026-02-18 Education and Health

    Referred to Committee on Education and Health

  22. 2026-02-17 House

    Read third time and passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A)

  23. 2026-02-16 House

    Read second time

  24. 2026-02-16 House

    committee substitute agreed to

  25. 2026-02-16 House

    Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  26. 2026-02-15 House

    Read first time

  27. 2026-02-13 Health and Human Services

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1452)

  28. 2026-02-12 Health and Human Services

    Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute (21-Y 0-N)

  29. 2026-02-12 House

    House committee offered

  30. 2026-02-12 Health and Human Services

    Committee substitute printed 26107855D-H1

  31. 2026-02-10 Health and Human Services

    Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute (17-Y 3-N)

  32. 2026-02-10 Health and Human Services

    Reconsidered by Health and Human Services (Voice Vote)

  33. 2026-02-05 Social Services

    Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 1-N)

  34. 2026-02-05 Social Services

    House subcommittee offered

  35. 2026-02-03 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1452)

  36. 2026-01-30 Social Services

    Assigned sub: Social Services

  37. 2026-01-23 House

    Presented and ordered printed 26104871D

  38. 2026-01-23 Health and Human Services

    Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services

Official Summary Text

Department of Medical Assistance Services; expedited review process for Medicaid service authorization requests; report.
Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to (i) implement expedited review of Medicaid service authorization requests consistent with applicable federal law and (ii) annually transmit the prior authorization report required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to the Chairs of the House Committees on Appropriations and Health and Human Services and the Senate Committees on Finance and Appropriations and Education and Health.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered
32.1-325.1:2
, relating to Department of Medical Assistance Services; expedited review process for Medicaid service authorization requests; report.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered
32.1-325.1:2
as follows:
§
32.1-325.1:2
. Expedited review of certain Medicaid service authorization requests; authority; limitations.
A. The Department shall implement expedited review of Medicaid service authorization requests consistent with applicable federal law and regulations governing expedited prior authorization determinations.
B. Nothing in this section shall be construed to diminish or alter existing federal or state requirements regarding documentation or certification necessary to demonstrate medical urgency.
C. Implementation of the expedited review process established pursuant to subsection A shall not be construed to:
1. Guarantee approval of any request under review;
2. Create a new entitlement to coverage or payment;
3. Expand the scope of Medicaid benefits;
4. Alter existing medical necessity criteria;
5. Create a private cause of action; or
6. Require the Department to:
a. Accept incomplete or insufficient documentation required pursuant to subsection B;
b. Conduct new data collection, medical testing, or environmental monitoring;
c. Obtain or provide medical equipment; or
d. Engage consultants for implementation of this section.
D. The Department shall annually transmit the prior authorization report required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and publicly posted by the Department to the Chairs of the House Committees on Appropriations and Health and Human Services and the Senate Committees on Finance and Appropriations and Education and Health within 30 days of such public posting. The Department may include additional summary information related to expedited service authorization determinations, including, to the extent available from existing data systems and collected in the ordinary course of business, the number of requests initially processed as standard that were subsequently determined to meet the criteria necessary for expedited service authorization.