FYI WEEKLY

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:

VHHA Solutions Enters Partnership with Care Logistics to Support Improved Efficiency for Providers

Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA) affiliate VHHA Solutions has entered a new strategic partnership with Care Logistics, a company whose operational model and technology solutions support health systems in enhancing operational efficiency to strengthen performance and growth. Care Logistics provides health systems with a proven operational model designed to simplify healthcare operations and establish a foundation for improved performance. The model changes how teams across the hospital coordinate a patient’s care from admission through discharge; Care Logistics works with hospital leaders and staff until the new approach is running smoothly. Its CareEdge technology hardwires that model into daily routines and provides a complete, real-time view of health system operations, identifying patterns and trends that may otherwise remain unseen. Together, the model and the technology help health systems identify throughput bottlenecks and unlock capacity, improving financial performance through more efficient operations that also help enhance patient care. Contact VHHA Solutions to learn more about Care Logistics and its operational model and technology offerings to support operational improvement for healthcare organizations. Read more here.

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 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.

News Updates

Virginia Among States Requesting that Feds Delay Medicaid Work Requirement Effective Date

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger recently co-signed a letter alongside governors from California, Maine, New Mexico, and Oregon that asks federal officials to “delay the January 1, 2027 compliance date” for Medicaid work requirements. H.R. 1, the budget reconciliation package of 2025, makes substantial Medicaid policy and funding changes, including rules dictating that eligible adults ages 19-64 be employed, in school, in a work training program, or serving as a caregiver as a condition of Medicaid eligibility. The letter signed by the governors claims that an interim final rule on work requirements issued in June by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) “introduced significant changes” from previous agency direction, leaving “states without sufficient time to make the necessary operational, technological, and administrative changes” to be in compliance by the current deadline.

News Reports: Quarantine Activated After Death of Russian Technician Linked to Anti-Plague Lab

News organizations around the globe this week reported that “dozens” of people have been placed into quarantine after a Russian worker at a plague research laboratory is said to have perished from an illness. Media reports identified the decedent as a “28-year-old female laboratory technician at the Irkutsk Research Anti-Plague Institute of Siberia” who perished “after being diagnosed with a pneumonia of ‘unknown’ origin.” Those reports are being attributed to information from Rospotrebnadzor, the Russian Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare.

HHS, CMS Announce New Regulations on Health Pricing, Coverage Information

This week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), announced that consumers will have access to more reliable, accessible, and actionable information about health coverage provisions and likely out-of-pocket costs prior to receiving care under new regulations on healthcare price transparency. Updates to the recently finalized Transparency in Coverage (TiC) rule seek to improve underlying healthcare pricing data by reducing duplicative and unnecessary information, providing more context about in-network prices, increasing available out-of-network pricing information, and strengthening accountability for the completeness and accuracy of published data. The agency said reporting frequency for pricing information will change from monthly to quarterly, maintaining meaningful transparency while lowering administrative burden. The rules also require group health plans and health insurance issuers to provide consumers with personalized cost-sharing information by phone, in addition to existing online tools. Read the rule here.

Legislation Filed in Congress to Replace Surprise Billing Arbitration Process with Median Rate

U.S. Representative Frank Pallone of New Jersey recently filed legislation to change a key provision in the current surprise billing federal law that removes patients from the process of resolving payment disputes between insurers and providers. The legislation reportedly would replace the arbitration process with a benchmarking approach wherein “insurers would pay providers based on the median in-network rate for a particular service in a given geographic area.” Congressman Pallone is the ranking member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and could become committee chair next year depending on the outcome of November’s congressional elections.

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 less than 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.

Events

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.”

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.

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.

Registration is now open for the Virginia Association of Free & Charitable Clinics’ (VAFCC) 2026 Annual Conference that is being held Nov. 15-17 in Richmond. The conference theme — “Many Paths, One Purpose, Better Together: Strengthening the Safety Net” — reflects the importance of collaboration as clinics and community partners work to meet growing needs across the Commonwealth. The conference will bring together free and charitable clinics, healthcare organizations, policymakers, funders, advocates, and community partners to share best practices, strengthen relationships, and advance innovative solutions. At a time when many Virginians face potential loss of coverage due to the expiration of enhanced ACA premium tax credits and upcoming Medicaid changes under H.R. 1, these conversations are more important than ever. Register for the event through Nov. 6 at this link.

Podcast

VHHA Patients Come First Podcast Features VCU Health Medical-Legal Partnership Director

This episode of VHHA’s Patients Come First podcast features Allison Held, Director of the VCU Health Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP). She joins us for a conversation about the work of the MLP at the intersection of health care and legal services to help patients navigate legal issues that can impact health and quality of life, as well as efforts to expand the MLP framework in Virginia. Send a message to MLP@vcuhealth.org to learn more and get involved. Visit this link to join the MLP. Listen to the episode here and hear past episodes through this link.

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.

Around the State

Bolte

McAuliffe

Sage Bolte, President and Chief Philanthropy Officer for Inova Health Foundation, and Candice McAuliffe, Medicaid Plan President for Sentara Health Plans, have been named recipients of the Virginia Business 2026 Virginia Women in Leadership Awards. Award recipients have demonstrated extraordinary professional achievement, including breaking glass ceilings, mentoring others, engaging in civic work, and bringing their leadership skills to nonprofit and company boards. Many are the top women leaders in their organizations as well as prominent contributors to their communities. Read more here.

Children’s National Hospital, Inova Fairfax Hospital, UVA Health University Medical Center, and VCU Medical Center have been named to the Becker’s Hospital Review 2026 list of 100 great hospitals in America list. See more here.

Follow VHHA

LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | vhha.com

%%Member_Busname%%
%%Member_Addr%%, %%Member_City%%, %%Member_State%% %%Member_PostalCode%%

Unsubscribe | Preference Center