Updates Health Care Decision Rules in Virginia
Virginia · HB548 · Introduced Jan 13, 2026
Why it matters
Patients and families would follow new rules for advance directives and who can make medical decisions. Health care providers and facilities would need to update their policies.
What it does
- Replaces the state's existing advance directive and health care decision laws with a new set of rules
- Updates many other Virginia health, mental health, and care laws to match the new act
- Repeals several older sections of the health care decisions code
- Adds a civil penalty for violations, with amounts set in the new sections
Status
Latest action (2026-07-21): Continued from last session
About this bill
Would replace Virginia's health care decision laws with a new Uniform Health Care Decisions Act and add a civil penalty for violations. The bill also updates many related health and care laws.
Uniform Health Care Decisions Act; civil penalty.
Perspectives
💬 The case for
Health care groups would likely say a single updated law makes decisions clearer for patients and providers. Legal groups may say it simplifies rules spread across many sections.
💬 The case against
Some disability and elder advocates would likely say changes could weaken protections for people who cannot speak for themselves. Others may worry about the new civil penalties.
Sponsored by
Sponsor details for this state bill are at the source link.
News
Loading coverage…