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2017 SESSION

17104205D
SENATE BILL NO. 1557
Offered January 20, 2017
A BILL to direct the Department of Health to establish a work group of interested stakeholders to examine the risks and benefits of having community health workers in the Commonwealth.
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Patron-- Barker
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. § 1. The Department of Health Professions shall establish a work group of interested stakeholders to examine the risks and benefits of having community health workers in the Commonwealth, including standardized training for such workers. The work group shall (i) develop a scope of practice and core competencies for community health workers; (ii) adopt consensus training and certification standards; and (iii) identify (a) a certifying entity, (b) legislative and health system policy priorities to support the sustainability of community health workers, (c) strategies to educate the public and private third-party payers and health care systems to increase awareness of the uses and the role of a community health worker, and (d) sustainable payment systems for community health worker systems as a part of an integrated health care team. The Department of Health shall submit a report on the work group's findings and recommendations to the Governor and to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by October 15, 2017.