HB280 • 2026

Comprehensive children's health care coverage program; DMAS Services to establish.

<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 32.1 a chapter numbered 13.01, consisting of a section numbered 32.1-353.01, relating to comprehensive children's health care coverage program.</p>

Children Healthcare

Enacted

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

Sponsor: Clark
Last action: 2026-02-18
Official status: Failed
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not specify how much money will be used to fund the program.

Comprehensive Health Care for Kids

This bill directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to establish a state-funded health care program for children under 19 who are not covered by other insurance or Medicaid.

What This Bill Does

Establishes a program providing free comprehensive health care coverage for uninsured and non-Medicaid-eligible children under 19 years old in Virginia.
Ensures that all program information is accessible to individuals with limited English proficiency and disabilities, including oral interpretation and written translation services at no cost.
Maintains confidentiality of personal information obtained by the program unless there's a court order or consent from the individual.
Requires the Department to seek federal waivers and approvals to maximize federal financial participation in funding the program.

Who It Names or Affects

Children under 19 who don't have health insurance or Medicaid
The Department of Medical Assistance Services

Terms To Know

Medicaid: A government program that helps people with low income pay for medical care.
Limited English Proficiency: When someone has trouble understanding, speaking, reading, or writing in English.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify the exact amount of funding allocated to the program.
It is unclear if and when federal waivers will be granted for additional funding.
Details about how the program will be implemented are left to the Department of Medical Assistance Services.

Bill History

2026-02-18 House
Left in Committee Health and Human Services
2026-01-22 Social Services
Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (8-Y 0-N)
2026-01-16 Social Services
Assigned sub: Social Services
2026-01-09 House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103910D
2026-01-09 Health and Human Services
Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services

Official Summary Text

Comprehensive children's health care coverage program.
Directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services (the Department) to establish a program to provide state-funded comprehensive health care coverage for individuals in the Commonwealth who are (i) under 19 years of age and (ii) not covered under a group health plan or health insurance coverage, or otherwise eligible for medical assistance services through the Commonwealth's program of medical assistance services established pursuant to Title XIX or XXI of the Social Security Act. The bill also requires the Department to ensure that all program information is made available in a manner that is accessible to individuals with limited English proficiency and individuals with disabilities through the provision of language access services, including oral interpretation and written translation, free of charge and to ensure that information obtained by the program remains confidential and is not disclosed for any purpose not related to the administration of the program or any purpose related to civil immigration enforcement unless the subject of the information consents to such disclosure or the requesting agency presents a valid judicial order, subpoena, or warrant. The bill requires the Department to seek all federal waivers and other approvals necessary to maximize federal financial participation in the cost of carrying out the program established by the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 32.1 a chapter numbered 13.01, consisting of a section numbered
32.1-353.01
, relating to comprehensive children's health care coverage program.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Title 32.1 a chapter numbered 13.01, consisting of a section numbered
32.1-353.01
, as follows:

CHAPTER

13.01
.

COMPREHENSIVE CHILDREN
'
S HEALTH CARE COVERAGE PROGRAM
.

§
32.1-353.01
.
C
omprehensive
children
'
s
health care coverage program.

A.
The Department of Medical Assistance Services
(the Department)
shall
, notwithstanding the provisions of §
§

32.1-325.03
and
63.2-503.1
,
establish a program
to provide s
tate-funded
comprehensive
health care coverage for
individuals
in the Commonwealth who
are
(i)

under 19 years of age
and
(ii)
not covered under a group health plan
,
health insurance coverage
, or otherwise eligible for medical assistance services through the Commonwealth's program of medical assistance services established pursuant to Title XIX or XXI of the Social Security Act
.
Such program shall provide
comprehensive health
care coverage
that is consistent with the coverage provided to children under the state plan for medical assistance services. Services provided through the program shall be provided
in
the same manner and with the same coverage and service limitations as
such services are provided to children under the state plan for medical assistance services.

B. The Department shall establish a centralized processing site for the administration of the
program

established pursuant to this section, which shall include
distribution of program information, robust outreach
and marketing
activities
, eligibility determinations,
enrollment,

and data collection
, and may contract with
third-party
administrators
to provide
such services and any other administrative services
.
The program shall also provide for acceptance

of applications by local
social services agencies, providers, and other appropriate persons.

C. The Department shall ensure that all program information is made available in a manner
that
is accessible to individuals with limited English proficiency
and individuals with disabilities
through the provision of language access services, including oral interpretation and written translation, free of charge.

D. The Department shall ensure that information obtained
by the program established by this section remains confidential
and is not disclosed for any purpose not related to the administration of the program established pursuant to this section.

E.
The Department shall not
disclose
information obtained by the program established by this section to any federal, state, or local government entity, l
a
w-enforcement officer, or law-enforcement agency for a
n
y purpose related to civil immigration enforcement
unless (i) the subject of the information consents to such disclosure or (ii) the requesting agency or officer presents a lawful judicial order, judicial subpoena, or judicial warrant.

When
responding to a
lawful
judicial order
,
judicial subpoena, or judicial warrant, the Department shall disclose

only those records

or that information specifically requested. Within three business days of
receiving
a request for information for the purpose of civil immigration enforcement, the Commissioner shall
notify
the subject of the information requested
(
a
)
that such request was made and
(
b
) of
the
identity

of the requesting agency.

2. That the Department of Medical Assistance Services shall seek all federal waivers and other approvals necessary to maximize federal financial participation in the cost of carrying out the program established pursuant to this act.