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To find out who your legislator is call 202-224-3121. |
VIRGINIA
Christopher Spanos
The Virginia General Assembly convenes January 12, 2005 and adjourns on
February 26, 2005.
Clinical Society Day at the General Assembly is tentatively planned for February 14 (subject to adoption of the General Assembly calendar.)
Coverage for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa
In the last session, HB 294 proposed requiring health insurance coverage for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa as biologically-based mental illnesses. Changes in required health insurance benefits proposed during the General Assembly session are regularly referred to the Advisory Commission on Mandated Health Insurance Benefits for review; Virginia clinical society member Keitha Austin has addressed the panel with a statement of support.
Access to Psychotherapy Notes
A key issue for clinicians in Virginia is inconsistency of rules governing patient and attorney access to psychotherapy notes. HIPAA protections “carve out” such notes/records, Virginia law is broad and has diverse interpretations, and Virginia Human Rights Regulations govern some patient access to records. Practitioners usually make judgment calls about whether to include or exclude psychotherapy notes in permanent records based on patient safety.
The Virginia Joint Commission on Health Care is studying whether changes to Virginia’s health records laws are warranted. Clinical society comments will be sent to the Joint Commission work group.
Government and public affairs counselor Christopher Spanos represents GWSCSW and Virginia SCSW on legislative matters in Richmond. He is with the lobbying firm Spanos Consulting Group.
For GSCSW Legislative
Information contact:
GWSCSW
5028 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 404
Washington DC 20016
Phone 202 537 0007
Fax 202 364-0435
Email GWSCSW@gmail.com
Website http://www.gwscsw.org