FYI WEEKLY
October 2, 2026
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FYI WeeklyHealthcare News for Virginia’s Hospitals and Health Systems October 2, 2026 |
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You are receiving this e-mail from VHHA because you requested a subscription. Questions and content submissions may be sent to jtwalker@vhha.com. |
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Each day, VHHA actively works on behalf of its members, their employees, and Virginians to advance the interests of Virginia’s hospitals and health systems. In the past week, these are some developments of interest to Virginia hospitals and health systems: |
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VHHA Solutions Hosts Technology Firms Offering Revenue Cycle Innovations to Healthcare Providers This week, VHHA Solutions hosted representatives from Commence and Milagro, firms that offer innovative technologies that can help Virginia’s healthcare organizations improve performance, streamline operations, and strengthen financial sustainability. That includes revenue cycle innovations such as AI-powered automated medical coding, proactive preauthorization checks, and denial prevention to help reduce administrative burden, improve coding accuracy, and increase revenue for hospitals. VHHA Participates in Interagency Working Group on Human Trafficking This week, VHHA staff participated in a meeting of the Interagency Working Group on Human Trafficking hosted at the Virginia Attorney General’s Office in Richmond. The meeting featured a presentation on labor trafficking and updates from representatives with state agencies including the Department of Criminal Justice Services, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Labor and Industry, the Department of Social Services, the Virginia Department of Transportation, Virginia State Police, and other agency officials and stakeholders. VHHA Foundation Hosts Webinar on Sustaining Hospital Peer Recovery Specialists Peer recovery specialists (PRS) are important members of hospital teams who meet patients with substance use disorders in hospital emergency departments. They work with interdisciplinary teams, guiding patients on a self-directed journey, offering recovery resources and support and improving outcomes. The VHHA Foundation recently hosted a webinar to provide hospital teams with insights on sustaining those roles for daily effectiveness and long-term impact. The webinar content clarified the role of PRSs, covered the process of billing reimbursement through the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS), and offered additional funding opportunity suggestions. View a webinar recording here and presentation slides through this link. VHHA Seeks Hospital Staff Input in 2026 Member Feedback Survey The 2026 VHHA Member Feedback Survey is an annual opportunity for individuals who work in VHHA member hospitals and health systems to share their insights and observations about VHHA, its work, programming, and engagement activities. Survey responses help VHHA improve its service to members. Please take a moment to complete the survey and share feedback about VHHA here. VHHA Encourages Hospital Staff to Consider Applying for Sorensen Political Leaders Program As part of its active partnership with the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia, VHHA encourages hospital staff and leaders to apply for the 2027 Political Leaders Program. Applications are being accepted until Nov. 16. The 2027 cohort program will run from March-December. Visit this link for more information and to access the program application. In 2020, VHHA entered into a partnership with Sorensen to support its programming and help identify healthcare leaders who are strong candidates for the Political Leaders Program. The program draws applicants from across the state and focuses on Virginia politics and governing, policy issues and solutions, regional needs, ethical servant leadership, and efforts to unite the Commonwealth. This program is primarily focused on individuals who are 10-plus years removed from college. Prospective program applicants from VHHA hospitals or health systems are encouraged to contact VHHA President and CEO Sean T. Connaughton at sconnaughton@vhha.com to discuss this opportunity and the ways in which VHHA can support applicants. Register for the 2026 Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Leaders Summit in November Register today for the 2026 Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Leaders Summit, whose theme is “100 Years Strong: Honoring Our Past. Shaping the Future.” The Summit will be held Nov. 4-6 at The Omni Homestead Resort as part of the continuing celebration of the 100th anniversary of VHHA this year. For more than a century, Virginia’s hospitals and health systems have served as the heartbeat of communities, providing compassionate care and leading through times of challenge and opportunity. This year’s Summit brings together VHHA and hospital officials from across the Commonwealth to celebrate a century of service, honor the leaders who have shaped healthcare in Virginia, and look ahead to the next 100 years. Visit this link to register. VHHA in the News VHHA actively engages with the news media to share public messaging and coordinate member media appearances to showcase the important work done by Virginia hospitals. That work is reflected in recent coverage from Virginia Business. |
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CMS Launches State Partnership on Medicaid Quality, Outcome Measurement The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced the launch of a partnership with 37 states focused on quality measurement in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), with a focus on health outcomes. CMS said that the agency and its partners will prioritize measures that demonstrate meaningful improvements in prevention, chronic disease management, and behavioral health. The new “Investing in Health Outcomes” effort allows states to commit to a voluntary Medicaid Quality Pledge built around four principles that prioritize health outcomes over process, streamline quality measure inventories to reduce burden without sacrificing accountability, advance digital quality measurement, and align financial accountability with outcomes-oriented measures. According to CMS, Virginia is not currently a participating state in this initiative. President Trump Issues Executive Orders on Artificial Intelligence U.S. President Donald J. Trump issued a pair of executive orders related to artificial intelligence (AI) this week. One order directed the creation of America.gov as a “secure, intelligent, and service-oriented point of entry through which an individual may sign in, communicate in plain language, receive accurate answers, and, where authorized and technically available, complete Government transactions without being required to navigate the websites of multiple agencies.” The other order directs government agencies to substitute the term “super intelligence” for “artificial intelligence” to the extent it is permitted by law. CMS Anticipates Lower Average Premiums for Medicare Advantage Plans, Modest Part D Increase The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced that weighted average Medicare Advantage premiums are projected to fall more than 16 percent in 2027 compared to 2026 and that average prescription drug premiums in Medicare Advantage are projected to fall 38 percent. The agency also noted that the average premium for standalone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans is projected to rise by less than $1 per month in 2027. More information on state-level costs in 2027 can be seen here. Eric Cantor, Former Virginia Congressman and Majority Leader, Named PhRMA CEO Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) recently announced that its Board of Directors has selected Eric Cantor as the next President and CEO of the organization, effective Nov. 9. Cantor is an attorney who previously served in the Virginia House of Delegates (1992-2001) and the U.S. House of Representatives (2000-2014), where he was House Majority Leader from 2011-2014. PhRMA is an industry advocacy group that represents the nation’s leading biopharmaceutical research companies. VHHA Foundation Accepting Proposals for ‘Food is Medicine’ Rural Health Program Funding The VHHA Foundation, an implementation partner on the Virginia Rural Health Transformation work to administer grant funding for several key initiatives under that framework, recently launched a request for funding proposals under the Food is Medicine (FiM) opportunity. FiM aims to address root causes of poor health by improving access to nutritious food, nutrition education, and self-management support for rural Virginians with, or at risk of, chronic disease. This opportunity will support demonstrated sustainable approaches that improve access to nutritious food, reduce preventable utilization, promote healthier long-term outcomes, and generate evidence to support future scaling and reimbursement of Food is Medicine services across rural Virginia. The VHHA Foundation will administer grant funding to improve health outcomes through evidence-based strategies while strengthening partnerships among healthcare providers, food access organizations, and community stakeholders. Read more about the FiM opportunity and application process here. The FiM application deadline is Oct. 15 and awards will be announced by Oct. 30. Read more about the VHHA Foundation’s rural health transformation work at this website. The Virginia Rural Health Transformation work is the state programmatic framework for distributing funding under the federal Rural Health Transformation Program that was established last year as part of the H.R. 1 budget reconciliation package. H.R. 1 includes significant health policy changes and funding reductions. It also includes the Rural Health Transformation Program, which was created to mitigate impacts on rural healthcare. It has $50 billion in funding to be disbursed among states over five years. Virginia’s first-year award is $189 million, of which $122 million was recently announced as approved for the Commonwealth by the Administration of President Donald J. Trump and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). VHCF Accepting Grant Applications to Support Medicaid Outreach, Offers Virtual Training Workshops The Virginia Health Care Foundation (VHCF) recently announced a new request for applications (RFA) to expand the Project Connect program through an 18-month special grant focused on increasing access to Medicaid outreach and enrollment assistance as Virginia prepares for new federal requirements under H.R. 1. For nearly 30 years, VHCF has partnered with the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) to help eligible Virginians enroll in Medicaid through Project Connect, a statewide network of community-based outreach workers who provide education and enrollment assistance. Under the new RFA, VHCF will award 18-month grants to double the Project Connect workforce, adding approximately 13 additional outreach workers statewide to help eligible Virginians navigate the new federal requirements. The RFA application deadline is Oct. 15, with award notification scheduled for Dec. 18, and grant funding starting in 2027. View more information here. In related news, VHCF is offering upcoming training workshops to help organizations prepare for Medicaid changes to come. They include SUNLight, a new virtual training workshop to help organizations prepare for coming Medicaid changes, and the Classic SignUpNow workshop that is a session on Medicaid for older adults and people with disabilities. Read more about these training opportunities here. State Health Agencies Hosting Town Halls on New Medicaid Work Requirements New Medicaid work requirements are coming to Virginia in about three months. As of January 2027, certain adult Medicaid enrollees will be required to take part in a community engagement activity such as working a job or participating in an educational or training program to remain eligible for Medicaid coverage. Adults ages 19-64 who are in the Medicaid expansion population will be expected to spend at least 80 hours each month working a job, participating in a work training program, actively engaged in an educational or career training program, or doing community service under the new federal standard. That requirement is among several meaningful changes to Medicaid policy established in federal law last year. Another federal Medicaid policy change will require adults in the expansion population to have their coverage eligibility re-evaluated more frequently — every six months rather than annually. These federal policy changes have implications for hospitals and health systems that care for Medicaid enrollees who are subject to the new federal work requirements. To inform providers and Medicaid-eligible adults likely to be impacted by the new rules, the Virginia Office of the Health and Human Resources Secretary, the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS), and the Virginia Department of Social Services (DSS) are hosting a series of town hall meetings on the coming changes in communities across the Commonwealth this fall. Visit this link for location information and registration details. DMAS has also posted resources online about the Medicaid work requirements. The Medicaid work rules do not apply to enrolled children under 18 or adults older than 65, pregnant women and recently postpartum mothers, parents and caregivers to young children or a person with a disability, and individuals with certain disabilities. Recent state data shows that more than 527,000 Virginians are in the state Medicaid expansion population. Of those, nearly 109,000 are deemed “caretaker adults.” Another 418,000 expansion enrollees are not in that category. VHHA is actively engaged with state agencies and officials in the work to prepare for the impact of coming Medicaid policy changes, including work requirements. |
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Register for Upcoming Webinar in MDRO Private Laboratory Education Series In collaboration with the Virginia Healthcare-Associated Infections Advisory Group, the Virginia Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services has been providing a three-part webinar series intended for clinical microbiology laboratory testing personnel to provide education and improve understanding of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). The first webinar in the series on the “Importance of Identification for Diagnosis and Treatment” was held in August. The second webinar on “Best Practices for Interpretation and Reporting” was held in September. The third webinar installment is on Nov. 16 at 1 p.m. on the “Importance of Surveillance and the Role of Public Health.” Register for APIC-VA Educational Conference Oct. 15-16 in Lynchburg The Virginia Chapter of APIC (Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology) is hosting the 51st Annual APIC Virginia Conference Oct. 15-16 in Lynchburg. The conference theme is “Moving Mountains: Influencing the Future of Infection Prevention.” Register for the conference and see event details here. APIC-VA is a multi-disciplinary voluntary organization committed to mentorship of members, support of best practices, and ultimately, improvement of the quality of healthcare. Its members include nurses, physicians, technologists, public health administrators, military personnel, and others involved in infection control and epidemiology. Register for Oct. 21 VONL Virtual Conference on ‘Empowering Nurses for the Future’ Registration is open for the Virginia Organization for Nurse Leaders (VONL) 2026 virtual fall conference scheduled for Oct. 21. The theme for the daylong event is “Leadership in Motion: Empowering Nurses for the Future” and the agenda includes sessions on digital acceleration in health and higher education and leadership journey and career growth pathways for nurses. Sessions will be recorded and available for viewing. Register here. Third Annual Virginia Statewide Advanced Heart Failure Symposium Set for Oct. 24 in Richmond The Third Annual Virginia Statewide Advanced Heart Failure Symposium is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Richmond Marriott. The annual event is held in partnership with representatives from Carilion Clinic, Inova, Sentara Health, UVA Health, and VCU Health. It brings together clinicians across the Commonwealth to explore the latest advancements in heart failure. Continuing education (CE) credit is available to participants. Visit this link to learn more and register. VCU Health to Host ‘Mastering Modern Obesity Management’ Event on Nov. 7 in Richmond VCU Health invites healthcare providers and other relevant professionals to join an educational event on “Mastering Modern Obesity Management” scheduled for Nov. 7 at The Westin-Richmond. This continuing education conference is designed to help providers create the most effective weight loss plans for patients. The event will cover the latest in medical and surgical weight loss interventions, including advancements in pharmacotherapy, behavioral health considerations, creating personalized care plans, and surgical interventions. Learn more and register here. |
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Podcast episodes are also available through these podcast apps and networks: Apple Podcast, Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher, TuneIn, SoundCloud, Blubrry, iHeart Radio, Deezer, Podbay, Pocket Casts, the Virginia Audio Collective, Podcast Health, and the World Podcast Network. The podcast can also be heard on the radio airwaves — episodes air Sundays at 10 a.m. on 100.5 FM, 107.7 FM, 92.7 FM, and 820 AM across Central Virginia and 1650 AM in Hampton Roads. Send questions, comments, feedback, or guest suggestions to pcfpodcast@vhha.com. |
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Sentara Health recently promoted three leaders whose work has strengthened the organization. Meredith Strand, a director of three strategic clinical service lines for Sentara Health, has been promoted to Vice President, Oncology, Thoracic, and Imaging Services. Strand has demonstrated unwavering commitment to high-quality, patient-centered care, strengthening Sentara’s Oncology and Thoracic service lines, while helping to shape an improved operating model. Under her leadership, teams have improved access to care, enhanced quality, strengthened clinical integration, expanded community screening efforts, advanced innovative treatment partnerships, secured philanthropic support for program growth, and maintained accreditation across one of the nation’s largest cancer networks. Zishan Siddiqui, Chief Information Security Officer, has been promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer. Siddiqui has demonstrated exceptional leadership in strengthening Sentara’s cybersecurity and protecting the organization in an increasingly complex threat environment. Cybersecurity has become a critical enterprise function in healthcare, with increasingly frequent and more sophisticated attacks on information systems handling patient information. This threat has direct implications for patient care, operations, resiliency, consumer trust, regulatory compliance, and system reputation. The responsibility for protecting Sentara’s systems has expanded significantly, and Siddiqui’s expanded role will meet that need. Thuy Tran-Korns, Deputy Chief Information Security Officer, has been promoted to Vice President, Deputy Chief Information Security Officer. Tran-Korns has played an important role in advancing Sentara’s cybersecurity program through her leadership, collaboration, and commitment to operational excellence. Her work has helped strengthen security capabilities and fostered strong partnerships across multidisciplinary teams. As cybersecurity continues to evolve, Tran-Korns will play a critical role in helping ensure that Sentara remains resilient against more frequent and sophisticated threats. In her expanded role, she will serve as a key strategic partner to Senior Vice President, Chief Information Security Officer Zishan Siddiqui, while providing operational leadership for cybersecurity initiatives across the enterprise. She will help execute cybersecurity strategy, ensuring that priorities are integrated across all business and technology operations. Read more here. |
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Beth Matish, CEO of Johnston-Willis Hospital, an HCA Healthcare facility, will serve as chair of the 2027 Central Virginia Go Red for Women campaign. The initiative officially launched following the American Heart Association — Virginia Executive Breakfast. The campaign raises awareness, advocates for education, and supports lifesaving research focused on cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in women. Ireland Miller is starting a new position as Assistant Administrator at Chippenham Hospital, an HCA Healthcare facility. Miller previously served as Assistant Administrator and Ethics Compliance Officer at TriStar Southern Hills Medical Center at HCA Healthcare. Miller earned a bachelor of science degree from Baylor University and a master of health administration degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. |
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