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Legislative News |
Workers' Compensation Price Fixing Bill and Reform Bills Tabled: System and Cost Reforms to be Reviewed
By Cal Whitehead
Legislative Lobbyist
Whitehead Consulting, LLC
In a massive effort led by the Virginia Orthopaedic Society, the Medical Society of Virginia, and the Virginia Hospital & Health Care Association (VHHA), legislation that would have implemented a statutory fee schedule for workers' compensation care was tabled by a House Commerce & Labor special subcommittee. Citing a lack of consensus on a number of reform measures, Chairman Terry Kilgore (R-Gate City) ordered stakeholders to convene during the spring to develop consensus on workers' compensation system improvements. The special subcommittee will consider the stakeholder ideas during two meetings in late spring and early summer.
VOS coordinated a diverse group of providers, patient advocates, claimant attorneys, business organizations, and other stakeholders who were opposed to HB 1612 (Hugo, R-Fairfax). That legislation, supported by insurers, self-insured corporations, and other industry interest groups would have tied workers' compensation reimbursement to Medicare rates. This drastic change to a system that has the fourth lowest premiums in the country would threaten access to quality care by driving away providers.
VOS, MSV, and VHHA supported legislation offered by Delegate Lee Ware, which would have offered market-based reforms. HB 2206 would have encouraged private contracting, capped charge inflation by the medical Consumer Price Index, and required prompt payment for clean claim submissions. Industry representatives repeatedly rejected reform measures intended to slow growth but retain Virginia’s free market features.
The VOS Board is pleased that we have an extended opportunity to work on reforms. The Board is particularly thankful to the grassroots activity from VOS members leading up to and during the General Assembly session. The Medical Society of Virginia has been an invaluable partner and resource to VOS. Please support our ongoing efforts with your membership in both VOS and MSV as well as support of the organizations’ political action committees – ORTHO-PAC and MSV PAC._________________
June 14, 2013 Primary Update
By Ralston King
Whitehead Consulting, LLC
On Tuesday, the Commonwealth of Virginia held the primary election for the November statewide and House of Delegate elections. Up for election were the Democratic Lt. Governor and Attorney General as well as many highly contested House Democratic and Republican primaries.
State Senator Ralph Northam, a pediatric neurologist from the Eastern Shore, routed Aneesh Chopra by 8.5% for the candidate of Lt. Governor. A Northern Virginia native, Aneesh was the former Secretary of Technology and Chief Information Officer under President Obama.
Justin Fairfax, a federal prosecutor was narrowly defeated by state Senator Mark Herring for the candidate of Attorney General. Northam and Herring join gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe on the Democratic ticket in November.
Other important House Republican primary elections were in the 33rd and 29th districts. Two committee chairs – Joe May (Transportation) and Bev Sherwood (Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources) were defeated on Tuesday. They join three House Republican retirees; Lacey Putney (Appropriations), Bob Tata (Education) and Bob Purkey (Finance) who were also committee chairs. With five committee chairs open there could be a significant shift. Other ranking Republicans who currently chair other committees might pursue “trading up” to lead one of the newly vacant committees.
Incumbent Challenge
District 15 — Republican |
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29 of 29 precincts reporting (100.0%) |
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Todd Gilbert* |
3,661 |
92.10% |
Mark Prince |
314 |
7.90% |
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23 of 23 precincts reporting (100.0%) |
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Craig Ennis |
128 |
8.60% |
Bill Howell* |
1,361 |
91.40% |
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27 of 25 precincts reporting (108.0%) |
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Beverly Sherwood* |
1,492 |
48.68% |
Mark J Berg |
1,573 |
51.32% |
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32 of 32 precincts reporting (100.0%) |
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Joe May* |
2,201 |
42.66% |
Dave LaRock |
2,958 |
57.34% |
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20 of 20 precincts reporting (100.0%) |
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Dustin Curtis |
1,045 |
43.34% |
Bobby Orrock* |
1,366 |
56.66% |
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30 of 30 precincts reporting (100.0%) |
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Rosalyn Dance* |
2,485 |
52.87% |
Evandra Thompson |
2,215 |
47.13% |
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20 of 20 precincts reporting (100.0%) |
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Rick James |
851 |
31.90% |
Algie Howell* |
1,817 |
68.10% |
Other Primary Contests
District 6 — Republican | ||
41 of 41 precincts reporting (100.0%) |
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Jeff Campbell |
684 |
70.66% |
Jack Weaver |
284 |
29.34% |
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42 of 44 precincts reporting (95.5%) |
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Les Adams |
2,421 |
80.54% |
Kenneth Bowman |
585 |
19.46% |
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18 of 18 precincts reporting (100.0%) |
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Gary Byler |
1,024 |
35.25% |
Scott Taylor |
1,340 |
46.13% |
Jeremy Waters |
541 |
18.62% |
District 86 — Democrat |
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17 of 17 precincts reporting (100.0%) |
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Jennifer Boysko |
1,255 |
77.33% |
Herb Kemp |
368 |
22.67% |
*Incumbent
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