An Act to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-2001.4, 54.1-2901, and 54.1-3001 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Department of Veterans Services; Department of Health Professions; military medical personnel; program; work group; report.
HB523 creates and formalizes a Virginia program, to be administered by the Department of Veterans Services in collaboration with the Department of Health Professions, that allows certain recently separated military medical personnel to perform delegated medical or nursing tasks under supervision. The bill defines “military medical personnel” to include recent Army medics, Air Force medical technicians, Space Force medical personnel, Navy and Coast Guard corpsmen, and other enlisted service members who completed relevant technical training and certifications and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. These individuals may practice only within the level of their training and experience, and only under a licensed practitioner’s supervision.
The bill also directs the Department to establish general requirements for participating personnel, licensees, and employers, and to help veterans and other service members with health care-related experience who do not meet the new definition find jobs in the health care sector. In addition, the bill amends the Code of Virginia’s general exceptions to professional licensure rules to align with the new program and clarify when certain delegated acts may be performed under supervision. The supervising physician or podiatrist remains responsible for patient care, and participation is open to a range of medical employers, including physicians, professional corporations, hospitals, and certain medical facilities.
HB523 amends §§ 2.2-2001.4, 54.1-2901, and 54.1-3001 of the Code of Virginia to create a new pathway for military medical personnel to work in Virginia’s health care system without full licensure, so long as they are supervised and act within defined limits. It expands the state’s existing licensure exceptions by expressly recognizing delegated medical and nursing tasks performed by eligible veterans and service members, while preserving the authority and responsibility of licensed practitioners. The bill also requires state agencies to develop program standards and employment assistance efforts, affecting veterans, health care employers, and the professional licensing framework overseen by the Department of Health Professions.
The available record shows no committee transcript or recorded vote history, so there is no documented debate or opposition in the provided materials. Based on the bill’s enactment, the overall sentiment appears favorable and supportive of veteran employment and health care workforce development. The measure is framed as a practical workforce and transition policy rather than a controversial regulatory change.
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided transcripts or votes. Potential areas of concern inherent in the bill’s structure would likely involve patient safety, the scope of delegated practice, supervision requirements, and how closely military training maps onto Virginia licensure standards. Any such concerns would primarily involve the Department of Health Professions, supervising physicians or podiatrists, and employers participating in the program, but they are not reflected in the supplied legislative history.