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:

2026 Virginia Behavioral Health Summit in Richmond Attracts Hundreds of Stakeholders

This week, VHHA and the VHHA Foundation hosted the 2026 Virginia Behavioral Health Summit at The Westin-Richmond. “Innovating with Purpose: Building a Resilient Behavioral Health System” was the theme for this year’s eighth annual Summit. The daylong event brings together providers, patient advocates, administrators, policymakers, and other stakeholders to explore practical strategies for strengthening behavioral healthcare across the Commonwealth. Featured speakers at the 2026 Virginia Behavioral Health Summit included Virginia Health and Human Resources Secretary Marvin Figueroa and Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) Commissioner Daryl Washington, among others. Morning keynote remarks on the importance of building resilience in healthcare teams were shared by Amy Dee, a nurse and motivational speaker. Afternoon keynote remarks were offered by David Francisco, a music producer and former American Idol contestant with an inspiring story of overcoming a serious accident and paralysis. The Summit agenda featured sessions on the ethical use of artificial intelligence in behavioral healthcare, growing and sustaining well-being in healthcare teams, innovation in emergency behavioral healthcare, aggression risk prediction, workplace safety, workplace violence recovery, and addiction medicine integration across the care continuum. Additional Summit speakers included representatives from the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office, Augusta Health, Bon Secours, Carilion Clinic, the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, Inova, Lifepoint Health (Sovah Health), Riverside Health, the Rhode Island College School of Social Work, UVA Health, VCU Health, and the Virginia Treatment Center for Children. Read a news release here and view an event photo gallery here. Visit the event website here and access the Summit program brochure here.

VHHA Hosts In-Person Just Culture Workshop in Partnership with ECRI in Richmond

This week, VHHA, in partnership with ECRI, hosted hospital leaders in Richmond for an in-person workshop focused on implementing Just Culture principles across their organizations. By fostering an environment where team members feel empowered to speak up, learn from mistakes, and contribute openly, leaders can strengthen patient safety and workforce engagement. The one-day, in-person course equipped healthcare leaders and professionals across roles with the foundational knowledge and practical tools needed to implement and sustain Just Culture principles within their organizations. Workshop attendees received course materials, lunch, and eligibility to complete the Managers and Influencers course exam asynchronously following completion of the program. View photos from the event here.

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 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 WSET, ABC 13, and WHRO.

News Updates

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. 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).

Virginia Joint Commission on Health Care Examines H.R. 1 Impacts to Medicaid, ACA Plan Enrollment

At a meeting in Richmond this week, Virginia’s Joint Commission on Health Care (JCHC) received a staff presentation on access to coverage through Virginia’s Insurance Marketplace, the health benefit exchange through which individual and small group coverage plans can be purchased. Enrollment in 2026 coverage is down compared to 2025 and plan costs are up in the wake of the expiration of the federal enhanced premium tax credits (EPTC) at the end of last year. EPTC helped income eligible individuals defray those costs of purchasing coverage on the exchange. In response to EPTC expiration, health insurers offering plans on the exchange raised coverage rates for this year and requested rate increase approval from the state for 2027 plans. Data shared at the meeting by the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) indicates that 2026 plan enrollment has declined 19.7 percent from 370,000 to 297,000 as of July 2026. JCHC also received a staff presentation on impacts to Medicaid enrollment and eligibility under H.R. 1 policy changes. H.R. 1 cuts Medicaid funding. It requires certain beneficiaries to comply with work participation rules to maintain coverage. And it will require adults in the expansion population to have their coverage eligibility re-evaluated more frequently — every six months rather than annually. View the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) presentation on federal Medicaid policy changes here. The JCHC meeting broadcast can be viewed through this link.

Data Analysis: Nearly 6 in 10 Virginia Hospital Births Involve Mothers 30 and Older

New analysis by the VHHA Data Analytics Team shows that more women giving birth in Virginia hospitals are doing so later in life. Mothers who are 35-39 now account for one-fifth (20 percent) of all births in Virginia hospitals, up from 16.1 percent in 2017. The share of births among moms ages 30-34 has risen from 30.2 percent in 2017 to 32.4 percent through the first half of 2026. Another 5 percent of births in Virginia hospitals now involve mothers ages 40-49, up from 3.4 percent in 2017. In all, 57.4 percent of births in Virginia hospitals during the first half of 2026 were among mothers 30 or older. At the same time, the share of younger women giving birth in Virginia hospitals has dropped. That includes teens (ages 15-19), whose share of births has fallen from 4.1 percent in 2017 to 2.6 percent in 2026. Births among women in their 20s have also dropped — the share among women ages 20-24 has declined from 17.6 percent to 14 percent, while the share among women ages 25-29 has dipped from 28.4 percent to 26 percent. The trends observed in Virginia hospital birth rates by maternal age reflect patterns seen in broader national data. For the better part of two decades, U.S. birth rates have remained below population replacement levels and general fertility rates have been in decline, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC National Center for Health Statistics has found that the mean age of U.S. mothers rose from 28.7 in 2016 to 29.6 in 2023. Over that time, the share of first births to mothers 35 and older grew 25 percent while the share for mothers under age 25 dropped. The Virginia maternal age analysis is based on a review of annual Virginia hospital data during a period spanning 2017 through the first half of 2026.

Chart: share of Virginia hospital births by maternal age group, 2017 vs. first half of 2026

CMS Posts Preliminary Payment Rates for Diagnostic Lab Test Codes, Accepting Public Comments

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently posted preliminary weighted median private payor rates for certain clinical diagnostic laboratory test codes as a step toward setting Medicare’s calendar year (CY) 2027 payment rates under the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS). There is a 30-day public comment period on the preliminary CY 2027 CLFS rates and supporting data files. Written comments should be submitted electronically to this e-mail address: CLFS_Annual_Public_Meeting@cms.hhs.gov. CMS states that Medicare has been overpaying for laboratory services relative to private payors. The agency indicates that proposed payment reductions will be gradually phased in through 2029 and are projected to save $1 billion annually. CMS will publish final CY 2027 CLFS rates on its website in November 2026. Read the CMS announcement here and see more details on the proposed changes here.

White House Directives Seek to Extend $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee, Monitor Organizational Hiring

U.S. President Donald J. Trump recently issued a proclamation to renew a $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applicants seeking to enter the nation and work. The President initially established the fee in 2025, though it has since become the subject of litigation seeking to block that policy. His recent proclamation extends the fee for one year. That action is separate from a proposal by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish a $103,265 fee “for all H-1B cap-subject petitions, including those eligible for the advanced degree exemption, which would be imposed in addition to all other applicable fees or payments.” Legislation has been filed in Congress to exempt physicians and healthcare workers from the $100,000 fee. Earlier this year, a DHS final rule took effect to modify the H-1B non-immigrant visa process to implement a weighted selection process in lieu of the previous lottery system for selecting visa recipients. The public comment period on the more recent DHS proposed rule concluded this week (Sept. 24). Read more here. In a related development, the President recently issued an executive order to apply scrutiny to employers seeking to hire H-1B workers, including firms that have conducted layoffs, or plan workforce reductions, that impact U.S. workers.

CMS to Cancel Health Coverage for 760,000 as Part of Fraud Prevention Initiative

This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that the agency is “canceling approximately 315,000 unauthorized enrollments covering more than 760,000 individuals, which is expected to result in a return of roughly $2.2 billion in taxpayer-funded subsidies” as part of an ongoing anti-fraud effort focused on coverage obtained through the federal health insurance marketplace. CMS also issued an interim final rule with a comment period on codifying the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) “authority to impose a temporary moratorium pausing the registration of agents and brokers” with federally facilitated exchanges for plan year 2027.

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.

Events

In collaboration with the Virginia Healthcare-Associated Infections Advisory Group, the Virginia Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services is 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. Future webinars are scheduled for Sept. 30 at 1 p.m. on “Best Practices for Interpretation and Reporting” and 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.

Podcast

Leora Brown, BSN, RN, CNOR, Program Manager for Product Implementation at Sentara Health

VHHA Patients Come First Podcast Features Sentara Health Nurse on Surgical Smoke Advocacy

This episode of VHHA’s Patients Come First podcast features Leora Brown, BSN, RN, CNOR, Program Manager for Product Implementation at Sentara Health. She joins us for a conversation about her work on the successful advocacy effort that resulted in a state law being passed to require surgical smoke evacuation systems in hospital operating rooms to protect healthcare professionals. 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

Taghon

Daley

Polsinelli

Riverside Health has announced several key physician leadership appointments across Riverside Medical Group and Riverside Regional Medical Center (RRMC), including Dr. Tom Taghon, DO, as the new president of Riverside Medical Group, assuming the responsibilities previously held by Dr. Tom Kayrouz, MD, who has continued to serve as RMG President while serving as Riverside’s Chief Operations Officer since January 2026. Dr. Aaron Daley has been named Chief Medical Officer at Riverside Regional Medical Center. And Dr. Amanda Polsinelli has been named Associate Chief Medical Officer at Riverside Regional Medical Center. Dr. Taghon brings extensive physician leadership to this new role, having previously served in various leadership positions at HCA Healthcare, Dayton Children’s Hospital, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and as an anesthesiologist for the U.S. Navy. Since joining RRMC as a stroke neurologist in 2019, Dr. Daley has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a steadfast commitment to patient care. Most recently, he served as the Associate Chief Medical Officer at RRMC and Interim Chief Medical Officer at Riverside Mental Health and Recovery Center. Dr. Polsinelli brings more than a decade of experience as an emergency medicine physician and has played a pivotal role in developing Riverside’s next generation of physicians as a founding faculty member and current Program Director of the Emergency Medicine Residency Program. Read more here.

Markow

Waltson

Sentara Health recently named two new leaders. Andy Markow has started as Vice President of Finance, Southeast Region, and Marianne Waltson is in the role of Home Health and Hospice Administrator. Markow previously held positions at Sentara Health as Market Chief Financial Officer, at Bon Secours Mercy Health as CFO for Bon Secours St. Francis Medical Center, Bon Secours Southside Medical Center, and Bon Secours Southern Virginia Medical Center, as well as a role at VCU Health as Manager of Business/Finance. Waltson previously held positions as Area Executive Director, Clinical Operations at Compassus and Hospice Director at Bon Secours Hampton Roads.

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