State lawmakers could strip regulations that protect hospitals from competition just when the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association is asking for a time out in Richmond.
With Congress set to repeal the Affordable Care Act, hospital executives want to see what will come out of Washington to replace it before having to deal with other reforms that could affect hospitals’ solvency.
“With a new president and Congress vowing major health care policy overhaul, there is even greater uncertainty and potential volatility for our health care delivery system,” said spokesman Julian Walker. “Because so much is unknown, several legislative leaders in the Virginia General Assembly have signaled a desire to wait and see what Washington does before pursuing significant state health care policy changes. That is a prudent, sensible approach given the present uncertainty and the potential financial impacts of decisions made in Washington.”
Walker was responding to comments by Del. John O’Bannon, R-Henrico, on Tuesday that he plans to push for major reforms to Virginia’s regulatory process, called the Certificate of Public Need, during the General Assembly session that begins Wednesday.
