SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2015 SESSION

  • print version
Senate Committee on Education and Health
Subcommittee Health Professions

McWaters (Chairman), Lucas, Carrico, Garrett, Barker

Clerk: Patty Lung
Staff: Thomas Stevens, Ryan Brimmer
Date of Meeting: January 29, 2015
Time and Place: 3:00 P.M. - 3rd Fl. East Conf. Rm.

S.B. 732

Patron: Stanley

Expanded access to investigational drugs, biological products, and devices. Provides that a manufacturer of an investigational drug, biological product, or device may make such drug, product, or device available to a person who has a terminal illness when (i) the person has, in consultation with his treating physician, considered all other treatment options currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; (ii) the person has been denied opportunity to participate in a clinical trial for the treatment of his terminal illness within one week of completion of the clinical trial application process or has been unable to participate in a clinical trial for the treatment of his terminal illness within 100 miles of his home address; (iii) the person's treating physician has recommended treatment with an investigational drug, biological product, or device; and (iv) the person has provided written informed consent. The bill provides that a manufacturer that provides such drug, product, or device may provide it free of charge or may require the person to pay costs associated with its manufacture. The bill also provides that health insurance providers may, but are not required to, provide coverage for costs associated with use of such drug, product, or device; that a health insurance provider may deny coverage other than coverage for preexisting conditions or benefits that commenced prior to the time treatment with the investigational drug, biological product, or device began to a person receiving treatment with an investigational drug, biological product, or device during the period of treatment; and that no health care provider who recommends such treatment shall be deemed to have engaged in unprofessional conduct solely on the grounds of such recommendation.

S.B. 1149

Patron: Stuart

Expanded access to investigational drugs, biological products, and devices. Provides that a manufacturer of an investigational drug, biological product, or device may make such investigational drug, biological product, or device available to a person who has a terminal illness when (i) no comparable or satisfactory alternative treatment options approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are available to treat his terminal illness; (ii) the potential benefits of the use of the investigational drug, biological product, or device outweigh the risks of use of the investigational drug, biological product, or device; (iii) his treating physician has recommended use of the investigational drug, biological product, or device; and (iv) the person has provided informed written consent to use of the investigational drug, biological product, or device. The bill provides that a manufacturer that provides an investigational drug, biological product, or device for treatment of a person's terminal illness may provide the investigational drug, biological product, or device free of charge or may require the person to pay costs associated with manufacture of the investigational drug, biological product, or device. The bill also provides that health insurance providers may, but are not required to, provide coverage for costs associated with use of the investigational drug, biological product, or device.

S.B. 1167

Patron: Hanger

Possession and administration of epinephrine auto-injectors. Requires the Commissioner of Health to identify and publish a list of certain entities or categories of entities that are located in or conduct activities in a setting where allergens capable of causing anaphylaxis may be present. The bill authorizes a prescriber to issue an order or a standing protocol in the name of such entities and authorizes an employee or agent of such entities to possess, provide, and administer epinephrine, provided such employee is trained in the administration of epinephrine. The bill also requires the Department of Health, in conjunction with the Department of Health Professions, to adopt policies and guidelines for the recognition and treatment of anaphylaxis in connection with such entities.

S.B. 1186

Patron: Obenshain

Naloxone; administration in cases of opiate overdose. Allows a practitioner to prescribe naloxone to a patient for administration to a person other than the patient when the patient believes the person is experiencing or is about to experience a life-threatening opiate overdose and allows a person to possess naloxone and administer naloxone to a person experiencing or about to experience a life-threatening opiate overdose. The bill provides that under such circumstances (i) a person who administers naloxone to another person shall not be liable for civil damages and (ii) a prescriber shall not be civilly or criminally liable for injuries resulting from the prescription of naloxone to a patient for administration to another person. The bill also allows emergency medical services personnel and other first responders to possess and administer naloxone pursuant to a written order or standing protocol, and the bill provides that first responders and emergency medical services personnel who administer naloxone pursuant to a written order or standing protocol shall not be civilly or criminally liable for injuries resulting from the administration of naloxone.

S.B. 1222

Patron: Reeves

Expanded access to investigational drugs, biological products, and devices. Provides that a manufacturer of an investigational drug, biological product, or device may make such investigational drug, biological product, or device available to a person who has a terminal illness when (i) no comparable or satisfactory alternative treatment options approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are available to treat his terminal illness; (ii) the potential benefits of the use of the investigational drug, biological product, or device outweigh the risks of use of the investigational drug, biological product, or device; (iii) his treating physician has recommended use of the investigational drug, biological product, or device; and (iv) the person has provided informed written consent to use of the investigational drug, biological product, or device. The bill provides that a manufacturer that provides an investigational drug, biological product, or device for treatment of a person's terminal illness may provide the investigational drug, biological product, or device free of charge or may require the person to pay costs associated with manufacture of the investigational drug, biological product, or device. The bill also provides that health insurance providers may, but are not required to, provide coverage for costs associated with use of the investigational drug, biological product, or device.

S.B. 1244

Patron: Newman

Practice of chiropractic; scope. Expands the scope of practice of chiropractic to include performing the physical examinations required of applicants for a new commercial driver's license or commercial driver's instruction permit or a renewal of such license or permit.

S.B. 1393

Patron: Saslaw

Pharmacists; compounding of drugs for use in executions. Empowers the Director of the Department of Corrections to make and enter into contracts with an external entity to compound the drugs necessary to carry out execution by lethal injection. The bill also ensures that information relating to the identity of the entity compounding drugs for use in executions and all documents related to the execution process are confidential, exempt from the Freedom of Information Act, and not subject to discovery or introduction as evidence in a civil proceeding except for good cause shown.

S.B. 1417

Patron: Petersen

Board of Counseling; standards of practice. Prohibits any person licensed by the Board of Counseling (the Board) from violating the Board's standards of practice regarding dual relationships, romantic relationships, or sexual intimacies with a client, supervisee, or student. The bill requires every person licensed by the Board to post in his office the Department of Health Professions phone number to report suspected abuse of the standards of practice.