Subcommittee recommends substitute requiring EDRS tutorial for medical certifiers after funeral directors describe delays

Delegate Krzyszak presented a substitute to House Bill 156 to require medical certifiers (physicians, PAs, nurse practitioners) who expect to sign death certificates to seek training and attest to understanding their legal responsibilities with regard to EDRS and medical certification of deaths.

Funeral directors testified that delays in obtaining physician signatures prevent cremations, delay life‑insurance and benefit payments and prolong family grief. Greg Faulkner, president of the Virginia Funeral Directors Association, and Margaret Eddy, a funeral director, described examples where families have waited weeks for signed death certificates. The sponsor and funeral‑industry witnesses said the Office of Vital Records already provides training modules and that an attestation to viewing the materials would reduce unnecessary delays.

The Medical Society (Scott Johnson) said it appreciated the work on the substitute but questioned whether a 27‑minute video alone would be the most effective education method; the society suggested alternative approaches such as acknowledgement during license renewal or clearer statutory guidance. The committee voted to report and refer the substitute on a recorded recommendation of 8–1.

The substitute seeks to reduce delays by requiring training exposure and attestation rather than imposing disciplinary changes at this stage; the Medical Society suggested additional or alternative education mechanisms during implementation.