VA SB 476
Status unknownHealth insurance; prior authorization requests reviewed by physician.
Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · upper
Quick answers
Did VA SB 476 pass?
The current status of VA SB 476 is not known from the official record. Latest recorded action (2026-01-26): Passed by indefinitely in Commerce and Labor (8-Y 6-N)
What is VA SB 476 about?
Health insurance; prior authorization requests reviewed by physician. Requires a provider contract between a health insurance carrier and a provider to contain provisions requiring (i) any decision to deny a prior authorization request for drug benefits or health care services is made by a licensed physician who is (a) an expert in the treatment of the enrollee's medical condition that is the subject of the prior authorization request and (b) knowledgeable about the recommended health care service or treatment through recent or current actual clinical experience treating patients with the same or similar medical condition of the enrollee and (ii) if the carrier is questioning the medical necessity of the request, the carrier will provide the enrollee's physician an opportunity to discuss the medical necessity of the health care service with the physician who will be responsible for determining authorization of the health care service or drug benefit under review.
Who sponsors VA SB 476?
Bill DeSteph is the primary sponsor of VA SB 476.
Description
Health insurance; prior authorization requests reviewed by physician. Requires a provider contract between a health insurance carrier and a provider to contain provisions requiring (i) any decision to deny a prior authorization request for drug benefits or health care services is made by a licensed physician who is (a) an expert in the treatment of the enrollee's medical condition that is the subject of the prior authorization request and (b) knowledgeable about the recommended health care service or treatment through recent or current actual clinical experience treating patients with the same or similar medical condition of the enrollee and (ii) if the carrier is questioning the medical necessity of the request, the carrier will provide the enrollee's physician an opportunity to discuss the medical necessity of the health care service with the physician who will be responsible for determining authorization of the health care service or drug benefit under review.
- Introduced
- 2026-01-13
- Latest action
- 2026-01-26 — Passed by indefinitely in Commerce and Labor (8-Y 6-N)
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Sponsors
- Bill DeStephprimary
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
2026-01-13
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100972D
filing,introduction
2026-01-13
Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
referral-committee
2026-01-25
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB476)
2026-01-26
Passed by indefinitely in Commerce and Labor (8-Y 6-N)
deferral
Versions
Documents
Votes
Passed by indefinitely in Commerce and Labor
2026-01-26 · pass · 8-6
Member-level votes (15)
- R. Creigh Deeds: yes
- Mark D. Obenshain: not voting
- L. Louise Lucas: yes
- David W. Marsden: yes
- Adam P. Ebbin: no
- Scott A. Surovell: yes
- William M. Stanley, Jr.: no
- Ryan T. McDougle: no
- Mamie E. Locke: yes
- Bryce E. Reeves: no
- Bill DeSteph: no
- Jeremy S. McPike: yes
- Mark J. Peake: no
- Aaron R. Rouse: yes
- Lamont Bagby: yes
Related bills
No related bills recorded for this bill.
Official source
Attribution
Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T05:35:59.552682Z
Inspect retained evidence for changes recorded after evidence tracking began:
Use this data
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Known limitations
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