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Virginia nonprofit celebrates 20 years of expanding medication access
As the cost of living rises, many low-income Virginians often have to choose between paying for vital medication or putting food on the table. This is where Rx Partnership comes in – a nonprofit that works to expand medication access across the entire state and has done so for 20 years. Rx Partnership executive director […]
Virginia ABC ousts CIO responsible for modernizing systems
The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority has lost its fourth executive officer in nearly 10 months in the latest sign of instability within the authority’s leadership. Paul Williams is out as ABC’s Chief Information Officer after serving in the role since 2016. Williams told the Virginia Mercury he was “separated from employment at ABC” by […]
Study: Opioid use disorders are undertreated among formerly incarcerated Virginians on Medicaid
A new Virginia Commonwealth University study shows that opioid use disorders are underdiagnosed and undertreated among formerly incarcerated Virginians enrolled in Medicaid. Among the 4,652 adults released from state prisons in 2022, the study shows 85% were enrolled in Medicaid within one month of their release. While 13%, or 514 of these adults had a […]
State forestry program purges hundreds of Virginia Callery pear trees
Both residents and Virginia Department of Forestry officials agree: Callery pear trees, including the much-loathed Bradford pear variety, aren’t just offensive to the nose — they’re detrimental to the state’s environment. A new state program is what led approximately 300 residents to the department’s headquarters in Charlottesville this past weekend, each having chopped down at […]
Lawmakers and advocates urge governor to sign prescription drug affordability board bill
Virginia lawmakers and community advocates are urging Gov. Glenn Youngkin to sign a bill into law creating a state prescription drug affordability board in an effort to lower medication prices. Speaking in support of the legislation at Diversity Richmond, Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Henrico and Del. Destiny LeVere Bolling, D-Henrico, said every day their constituents tell […]
Flavored vape products could be pulled from Virginia shelves
Flavored vape products lacking Food and Drug Administration approval could be pulled from Virginia shelves, as a pair of identical bills head to Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s desk for his signature. Del. Rodney Willett, D-Henrico, and Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, say their bills would help to eliminate the 50% of illegal, unregulated vapor and e-cigarette products […]
Virginia ABC official alleges further retaliation in whistleblower suit
A high level employee of Virginia’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority said in a new court filing that a retaliation campaign against her is ongoing, prompted by her lawsuit last December alleging retribution by her employers after she reported “millions” of dollars of missing liquor inventory to state leaders. ABC Director of Retail Operations Jennifer Burke […]
Virginia dementia registry project poised to become state law
A Virginia Commonwealth University-led project cataloging dementia cases and other neurodegenerative diseases across the state is poised to be codified into law, pending Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s signature, through a bill passed by the General Assembly this year. Founded in 2021 by now-VCU professor Dr. Annie Rhodes, the Virginia Memory Project is a partnership between the […]
Amendments establishing single Va. Medicaid pharmacy benefits manager die in conference
A pair of Virginia budget amendments that would have required the state to contract with a sole prescription management vendor to administer the commonwealth’s Medicaid prescription drug benefits died in conference last month. Some independent pharmacists said the conferees’ decision cost Virginia the chance to save over $30 million in the state budget, and the […]
Three interesting bills: declawing cats, sewage regulations and on-duty physicians
Hundreds of bills are filed for General Assembly consideration each year. In this weekly series, the Mercury takes a look at a few of lawmakers’ 2024 proposals that might not otherwise make headlines during the whirlwind legislative session. House Bill 1354: Prohibiting declawing cats This bill from Del. Marty Martinez, D-Loudoun, would prohibit veterinarians from […]
Contraception coverage bills sent to Youngkin’s desk
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is reviewing legislation sent to him by the Democratic-controlled General Assembly that would require health insurers to fully cover contraceptives in Virginia. Identical bills from Del. Candi Mundon King, D-Prince William, and Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, would require health insurance carriers in Virginia to cover all Food and Drug Administration-approved contraceptive […]
Three interesting bills: xylazine penalties, custodial death reports and ‘aliens’ in state code
Hundreds of bills are filed for General Assembly consideration each year. In this weekly series, the Mercury takes a look at a few of lawmakers’ 2024 proposals that might not otherwise make headlines during the whirlwind legislative session. House Bill 1187: Penalties linked to human consumption of xylazine This bill from Del. Keith Hodges, R-Middlesex, […]