Bill
Bill > HB712
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
02/19/2026
02/19/2026
Crossed Over
01/30/2026
01/30/2026
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Regular Session
Bill Summary
Board of Medicine; office-based buprenorphine treatment; counseling. Directs the Board of Medicine to amend its regulations regarding office-based buprenorphine treatment to require providers to offer counseling or referral to counseling to each patient as clinically necessary and mutually agreed-upon. The bill specifies that a patient's refusal of counseling does not preclude the patient from receiving office-based buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder. This bill is a recommendation of the Joint Commission on Health Care.
AI Summary
This bill directs the Board of Medicine, which oversees medical practitioners in Virginia, to update its rules for doctors providing office-based buprenorphine treatment. Buprenorphine is a medication used to treat opioid use disorder, a serious addiction. The updated regulations will require these doctors to offer counseling or refer patients to counseling services if it's deemed medically necessary and if both the doctor and patient agree. Importantly, if a patient chooses not to receive counseling, they will still be able to get buprenorphine treatment for their opioid use disorder. This change is based on a recommendation from the Joint Commission on Health Care, a state legislative body that studies healthcare issues.
Committee Categories
Health and Social Services
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Passed by for the day (Voice Vote) (on 02/20/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB712 |
| Fiscal Note/Analysis - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB712) | https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1089469.PDF |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB712/text/HB712 |
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