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Virginia bills · 2026 Regular Session

Virginia HB 481

Prior authorization; requiring physician review for denial.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed House
  4. Passed Senate
  5. To Governor
  6. Became law

Sponsors

Cosponsors (4)

Summary

Official abstract published by the Virginia legislature· SUMMARY AS PASSED

Prior authorization; requiring physician review for denial. Prohibits a health insurance carrier from making an adverse determination of a prior authorization request (i) for prescription drugs unless such denial has been reviewed and approved by a licensed physician or, if a licensed physician is not available, by a licensed pharmacist or (ii) for health care services unless such adverse determination has been reviewed and approved by (a) a licensed physician; (b) in the case of mental health services, a licensed mental health provider if a licensed physician is unavailable; or (c) in the case of dental services, a licensed dentist if a licensed physician is unavailable.

Text versions

Roll-call votes

State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 4:19 PM.

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Mar 10, 2026
House		H VOTE:passSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 5, 2026
Senate		Passage RpassSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 4, 2026
Senate		Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading)passSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 2, 2026
Senate		Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitutepassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 4, 2026
House		H VOTE:passSet your home in Virginia to see
Jan 29, 2026
House		Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitutepassSet your home in Virginia to see
Jan 27, 2026
House		Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitutepassSet your home in Virginia to see

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