Announcements

Notice of Periodic Review of Regulations
Request for Comment

The Virginia Board of Health Professions is conducting a periodic review and is requesting comment on the following current regulations:

18VAC75-20-10 et seq.Regulations Governing Practitioner Self-Referral
18VAC75-30-10 et seq., Regulations Governing Standards for Dietitians and Nutritionists
18VAC75-40-10 et seq. Regulations Governing Certification of Dialysis Technicians

The Board will consider whether the existing regulations are essential to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public in providing assurance that licensed practitioners are competent to practice. Alternatives to the current regulations or suggestions for clarification of the regulation will also be received and considered.

Comment Begins: November 21, 2011
Comment Ends: January 20, 2012

If any member of the public would like to comment on these regulations, please send comments by the close of the comment period to:

Elaine J. Yeatts
Senior Policy Analyst
Department of Health Professions
9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300
Richmond, VA 23233

Comments may also be e-mailed to: Elaine.yeatts@dhp.virginia.gov or faxed to: (804) 257-4434

Review of Potential Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice Barriers to the Development of Effective Team Approaches to Healthcare Delivery  in Virginia

NOTE:  The work plan for this study is being revised by the regulatory Research Committee and will reflect the new time table and a new approach to reviewing the rapidly evolving multidisciplinary team delivery literature.  It will be posted as soon as it is available.  Additional opportunities for public comment including round table discussion will also be listed in the revised work plan.

BHP Studies Pursuant to General Assembly Request

Study into the Need to Regulate Clinical Laboratory Personnel:  Related Documents

• Key Findings & Policy Options
• CMS Freedom of Information Act Request – Summary
• CMS Freedom of Information Act Request – Documents
• Study Report:  Medical Laboratory Scientists and Technicians

Federal Rules in Place Regarding Dialysis Patient Care Technicians

In order to meet US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requirements for reimbursement for End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) services federal regulations effective April 15, 2010 require facilities' technicians who have been employed since October 14, 2008 to be certified within 18 months of their date of hire.

Virginia's statutes and regulations require certification within 24 months regardless of the payment system for End Stage Renal Disease services. The CMS rules requiring certification within 18 months apply to federal reimbursement.

Attached for your reference is an explanatory letter from October 2009 from CMS to State Survey Agency Directors. In the Commonwealth this is the function of the Virginia Department of Health.

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/SurveyCertificationGenInfo/downloads/SCLetter10_03.pdf

Dialysis patient care technician info

Attention: dialysis patient care technician trainees, supervising registered nurses, and other interested parties, information on provisional practice for persons receiving training to become dialysis patient care technicians is available on the Board of Health Professions' webpage on the Laws and Regulations page.