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Panel unanimously backs streamlining charity-care reporting for COPN facilities

Virginia House subcommittee · January 28, 2026
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Summary

House Bill 606 would simplify annual charity-care reporting for medical facilities under Certificates of Public Need, standardizing the reporting basis and directing noncompliant facilities to pay into a fund for free clinics. The subcommittee voted 9–0 to report the bill.

Delegate Willett told the subcommittee that House Bill 606 would streamline how medical facilities subject to Certificates of Public Need report annual charity care. Under current practice, the reporting metric has varied; the bill would change reporting to a standardized basis (the patron and witnesses described a shift away from gross patient revenue toward a Medicare-reimbursement-based approach in how compliance is calculated).

Rufus Phillips (calling in) said the change would help regulators track compliance and help COPN holders meet charity-care conditions. Kyle Russell of Virginia Health Information said the bill alters how charity care is reported—moving away from gross patient revenue toward the Medicare-reimbursement basis—and would make enforcement and collection of compliance information easier without changing the actual amount of charity care required.

The subcommittee voted to report HB606 by a roll-call vote of 9 to 0.

The committee record shows support from health-information and free-clinic stakeholders and no recorded opposition during the subcommittee’s consideration.