WatchGov

Virginia bills · 2026 Regular Session

Virginia HB 656

Mental health & substance abuse disorders; network adequacy standards, comparative analyses.

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

Sponsors

Cosponsors (8)

Summary

Official abstract published by the Virginia legislature· SUMMARY AS PASSED

Mental health and substance abuse disorders; network adequacy standards; comparative analyses; report; emergency regulations. Directs the Department of Health to issue regulations that include quantitative network adequacy standards for timely access to care, travel time, and geographical distance that are at least as stringent as those imposed for qualified health plans and qualified dental plans. The bill amends the definitions of "mental health services" and "substance abuse services" for the purposes of health insurance coverage. The bill requires health carriers to submit all comparative analyses prepared pursuant to federal law to the Bureau of Insurance on the date and frequency as specified by the Bureau and includes additional information to include in such submission. Under the bill, the Bureau may impose a penalty not to exceed $100,000 for a noncompliant or insufficient comparative analysis or require a carrier to remove, revise, or remedy noncompliant treatment limitations. The bill also amends the contents of the annual report submitted by the Bureau to the General Assembly to cover enforcement efforts with respect to the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.The bill authorizes the Bureau to promulgate regulations as necessary to implement the provisions of the bill and directs the Department of Health to adopt emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill. The bill directs the Department of Human Resource Management to evaluate the impact of the proposed changes to the provisions of the bill related to health insurance. The provisions of the bill related to health insurance have a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027. This bill is identical to SB 524.

Text versions

Roll-call votes

State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 8:06 AM.

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Mar 11, 2026
House		H VOTE:passSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 10, 2026
Senate		Passage RpassSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 9, 2026
Senate		Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading)passSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 6, 2026
Senate		Reported from Finance and AppropriationspassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 26, 2026
Senate		Reported from Education and Health with substitutepassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 16, 2026
House		H VOTE:passSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 10, 2026
House		Reported from Health and Human Services with substitutepassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 5, 2026
House		Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitutepassSet your home in Virginia to see

Actions