The Joint Commission on Health Care (JCHC) executive subcommittee voted Thursday to add two targeted studies to its 2025 work plan: an examination of a Medicaid "in lieu of services" food and nutrition benefit for pregnant and postpartum people and for people with diabetes, and a study of strategies for legislative oversight of Medicaid program spending.

The studies were approved by voice vote after members said those topics balance immediate policymaking needs with the commission’s limited staff capacity. "JCHC staff does not have the capacity to take on all these projects," said Sarah, a JCHC staff member, during the meeting. "With the current workload...we believe we can take on no more than 2 new projects. Any new project that you add to the work plan at this time will need to be narrowly scoped."

Why it matters: Members said both topics could yield actionable information for legislators as federal policy and funding for Medicaid remain uncertain. A targeted study of a Medicaid food and nutrition benefit would describe affected populations, review how other states have implemented such benefits, and present policy options for Virginia. The oversight study would examine past efforts and models from other states to help the General Assembly monitor Medicaid spending more effectively.

What the commission decided: After discussion, a member made a motion "that we move forward with targeted studies 2 and 3," which was seconded and approved by the subcommittee. The vote was taken by voice; no roll call was recorded.

Discussion highlights and context: Members expressed support for both topics but framed their preferences differently. Delegate Rodney Willett, the subcommittee chair, said he was "super interested in the food nutrition benefit," calling it an emerging approach that has shown promising results elsewhere but requires more evidence. Several members, including one vice-chair, argued that possible federal changes to Medicaid make stronger legislative oversight necessary. "It might help us to lay the groundwork...about where we are with the Medicaid program legislatively," one member said in support of the oversight study.

Scope and next steps: The staff described the two work-plan items as targeted studies, meaning they will be narrowly focused to produce policy options within the calendar year. Staff said any added projects will be briefed at the commission's December meeting. The commission noted that topics not chosen this year could be revisited for the 2026 work plan.

Limitations and capacity: Sarah told members the commission already has three comprehensive studies underway in 2025 and an additional staff position transferred to JCHC to support new responsibilities. "We do have some additional capacity potentially if we really felt that we needed to add one or more things here," she said, but cautioned that added projects must be tightly scoped to be completed with existing staff.

What was not decided: The subcommittee did not adopt comprehensive studies on broader Medicaid spending management, outcome-measure adequacy, or other topics that were presented as information-brief options rather than targeted studies. Those subjects can be considered for the 2026 work plan.

Ending: Staff will begin scoping the two targeted studies and return with a timeline and scoping details to the full commission; the subcommittee’s recommendation will be presented to the full commission for final action.