HB688: Certified community health workers; establishes requirements for use of the title.


VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- CHAPTER
An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 2 of Chapter 1 of Title 32.1 a section numbered 32.1-15.1, relating to certified community health workers.
[H 688]
Approved

 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 2 of Chapter 1 of Title 32.1 a section numbered 32.1-15.1 as follows:

§ 32.1-15.1. Certified community health workers.

A. As used in this section, "certified community health worker" means a community health worker who has met the requirements of subsection B.

B. No person shall use or assume the title "certified community health worker" unless he is a community health worker who (i) has received training and education as a community health worker from an entity approved by a body approved by the Board and (ii) is certified as a certified community health worker by a body approved by the Board.

C. No entity shall hold itself out as providing training and education for certified community health workers required by subsection B unless its curriculum and training program has been approved by a body approved by the Board.

D. The Board shall adopt regulations setting forth requirements for (i) use of the title "certified community health worker" and (ii) education and training programs necessary to meet the requirements for certification as a certified community health worker.


HOUSE BILL NO. 688
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions
on January 28, 2020)
(Patrons Prior to Substitute--Delegates Aird, Guzman [HB 474])
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 2 of Chapter 1 of Title 32.1 a section numbered 32.1-15.1, relating to certified community health workers.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 2 of Chapter 1 of Title 32.1 a section numbered 32.1-15.1 as follows:

§ 32.1-15.1. Certified community health workers.

A. As used in this section, "certified community health worker" means a community health worker who has met the requirements of subsection B.

B. No person shall use or assume the title "certified community health worker" unless he is a community health worker who (i) has received training and education as a community health worker from an entity approved by a body approved by the Board and (ii) is certified as a certified community health worker by a body approved by the Board.

C. No entity shall hold itself out as providing training and education for certified community health workers required by subsection B unless its curriculum and training program has been approved by a body approved by the Board.

D. The Board shall adopt regulations setting forth requirements for (i) use of the title "certified community health worker" and (ii) education and training programs necessary to meet the requirements for certification as a certified community health worker.

HOUSE BILL NO. 688

Offered January 8, 2020
Prefiled January 6, 2020
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 4 of Chapter 3 of Title 32.1 a section numbered 32.1-92.3, relating to community health workers; certification.
Patron-- Aird

Committee Referral Pending

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 4 of Chapter 3 of Title 32.1 a section numbered 32.1-92.3 as follows:

§ 32.1-92.3. Community health workers; certification.

A. As used in this section:

"Certified community health worker" means a community health worker who has been certified by an entity approved by the Department in accordance with subsection C.

"Community health worker" means an individual who (i) applies his unique understanding of the experience, language, and culture of the populations he serves to promote healthy living and to help people take greater control over their health and lives and (ii) is trained to work in a variety of community settings, partnering in the delivery of health and human services to perform one or more of the following roles: (a) providing culturally appropriate health education and information; (b) linking people to direct service providers, including informal counseling and social support; and (c) advocating for individual and community needs, including identification of gaps and existing strengths and actively building individual and community capacity.

B. No person shall use or assume the title "certified community health worker" unless he is certified by a credentialing entity approved by the Department in accordance with subsection C.

C. An individual seeking certification as a certified community health worker in the Commonwealth shall submit to the Department a completed application and evidence satisfactory to the Department that the individual is certified by a Department-approved credentialing entity. The Department shall establish standards for the approval of credentialing entities. Any such entity shall have a certification process that is based on a standard scope of practice and core competencies aligned with national standards.