Establishing a Vision for Health Workforce Development in Virginia

Background: Why Is An Authority Structure Being Proposed?

2010-10-23T19:49:00.000-04:00

Final Draft

2009-11-13T12:09:00.004-05:00

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§ 32.1122.7 and 32.1122.21 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 32.1122.7:1 as follows:

§ 32.1122.7. Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority. purpose; Board of Directors.
A. There is hereby created as a public body corporate and as a political subdivision of the Commonwealth the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority, with such public and corporate powers as are set forth in § 32.1122.7: 1. The Authority is hereby constituted a public instrumentality, exercising public and essential governmental functions with the power and purpose to provide for the health, welfare, convenience, knowledge, benefit, and prosperity of the residents of the Commonwealth and such other persons who might be served by the Authority. The Authority is being established to move the Commonwealth forward in achieving its vision of ensuring a quality health workforce for all Virginians.

The mission of the Authority is to facilitate the development of a statewide health professions pipeline that identifies, educates, recruits and retains a diverse, appropriately geographically distributed and culturally-competent quality workforce. The mission of the Authority is accomplished by: (i) providing the statewide infrastructure required for health workforce needs assessment and planning that maintains engagement by health professions training programs in decision-making and program implementation; (ii) serving as the advisory board and setting priorities for the Virginia Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Program; (iii) coordinating with and serving as a resource to relevant state, regional and local entities; including the Department of Health Professions Workforce Data Center, JLARC, and the Joint Commission on Health Care, the Southwest Virginia Graduate Medical Education Consortium, the Southwest Virginia Health Authority or any similar regional Health Authority that may in the future be developed and legislatively authorized; (iv) informing state and local policy development as it pertains to health care delivery, training and education; (v) identifying and promoting evidence based strategies for health workforce pipeline development and interdisciplinary health care service models, particularly those affecting rural and other underserved areas; (vi) supporting communities in their health workforce recruitment and retention efforts, and developing partnerships and promoting models of participatory engagement with businesses and community-based and social organizations to foster the integration of health care training and education; (vii) advocating for programs that will result in reducing the debt-load of newly trained health professionals; (viii) identifying high priority target areas within each region of the Commonwealth and working toward health workforce development initiatives that improve health measurably in those areas; and (ix) fostering or creating innovative health workforce development models that provide both health and economic benefits to the regions they serve.

B. The Authority shall be governed by a Board of Directors. The Commissioner of Health, with the assistance of recommendations from the Health Workforce Advisory Committee, shall appoint the Board of Directors within three months of the enactment of this legislation. The composition of the Board shall accurately reflect the geographic, racial and ethnic diversity found within the Commonwealth to the extent possible, with an emphasis on those areas and populations that are underserved and under-represented. Members of the Board of Directors shall serve as the chair of a subcommittee comprised of stakeholders of their respective sectors and shall be responsible for obtaining input and representing the members of their sector during their term in Office. The Board shall establish by-laws for the Authority within six months of their appointment. The by-laws should ensure continuity of representation by all sectors as reflected by the composition of the Board.

The Board shall be comprised of seventeen (17) members and five ad hoc members, each representing a particular sector of the workforce pipeline. These include:

Health Professions Education Sector
• Dean from a dental school located in Virginia, or executive level designee – representing oral health
• Dean from an allopathic medical school located in Virginia, or executive level designee – representing allopathic training programs and physicians
• Dean from an osteopathic medical school located in Virginia, or executive level designee – representing osteopathic training programs and physicians
• Dean from a mid-level training program located in Virginia, or executive designee – representing mid-level health professionals
• Department Chair or designee in an educational institution located in Virginia that trains mental health professionals – representing mental health professionals
• Dean from a school of pharmacy located in Virginia, or executive level designee – representing pharmacy
• Dean from a school of nursing located in Virginia, or executive level designee – representing nursing
• Dean from a school of allied health located in Virginia, or executive level designee – representing allied health professions such as health administration, health information technology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, emergency medical technicians

Health Facilities and Employer Sector
• A representative from a mental health agency or facility in an underserved area – representing community mental health
• A hospital industry representative from an underserved area – representing health facilities
• A representative from the Virginia Community Healthcare Association, or designee – representing the healthcare safety net
• A representative from a provider association (e.g., AAFP, AAP, VDA, VPHA, VOMA, MSV ) – representing the health professions industry

Community and Community Health Sector
• A representative appointed by the Board of the Older Dominion Partnership who has health or health care expertise - representing the needs of the aging population
• A representative from the Virginia Consortium for Health Philanthropy – representing health philanthropies
• An AHEC Center director or designee – representing the AHECs
• The Executive Director of the Virginia Rural Health Association or designee – representing rural health
• One citizen representative from an underserved area

Ad Hoc Members
• One member of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules;
• One member of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates
• Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System, or executive level designee
• The Commissioner of Health or executive level designee
• The Director of the Department of Health Professions or executive level designee

§ 32.1122.7:1. Powers and duties of the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority.
A. The Authority is authorized to serve as the incorporated Consortium of allopathic and osteopathic medical schools in Virginia as required by federal statute to qualify for the receipt of Area Health Education Center funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration Area Health Education Centers programs, legislatively mandated under the Public Health Service Act as amended, Title VII, Section 751, and (42 U.S.C. 294a); and to administer federal, state, and local programs as needed to carry out its public purpose and objectives. The Authority is further authorized to exercise independently the powers conferred by this section in furtherance of its corporate and public purposes,to benefit citizens and such other persons who might be served by the Authority.

B. The Authority is authorized to monitor, collect and track data pertaining to health care delivery, training and education from Virginia educational institutions and other entities as needed to carry out its public purpose and objectives in areas where such data efforts do not already exist.

C. The Authority shall have the authority to assess policies, engage in policy development and make policy recommendations.

D. The Authority shall have the authority to apply for and accept Federal, State and local (public and private) grants, loans, appropriations and donations; hire and compensate staff, including an Executive Director; rent, lease, buy, own, acquire and dispose of property, real or personal; participate in joint ventures, including to make contracts and other agreements, with public and private entities in order to carry out its public purpose and objectives; and make bylaws for the management and regulation of its affairs.

E. The Board of Directors shall report biennially the activities and recommendations of the Authority to the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, Secretary of Education, Secretary of Commerce and Trade, the State Board of Health, the Commissioner of Health, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, the Governor, the Joint Commission on Health Care and the General Assembly. In any reporting period where state general funds are appropriated to the Authority, the annual report shall include a detailed summary of how state general funds appropriated to the Authority were expended.

F. The Authority shall be exempt from the Personnel Act, Workforce Transition Act, Administrative Process Act, and Public Procurement Act. The provisions of Chapter 29 (§ 2.2-2900 et seq.) of Title 2.2, Chapter 32 (§ 2.2-3200 et seq.) of Title 2.2, Chapter 40 (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.) of Title 2.2, and Chapter 43 (§ 2.2-4300 et seq.) of Title 2.2 shall not apply to the Authority in the exercise of any power conferred under this chapter.

G. Exemption from taxes or assessments. The exercise of the powers granted by this article shall be in all respects for the benefit of the people of the Commonwealth, for the increase of their commerce and prosperity, and for the improvement of their health and living conditions, and as the operation and maintenance of projects by the Authority and the undertaking of activities in furtherance of the purpose of the Authority constitute the performance of essential governmental functions, the Authority shall not be required to pay any taxes or assessments upon any project or any property acquired or used by the Authority under the provisions of this article or upon the income therefrom, including sales and use taxes on tangible personal property used in the operations of the Authority. The exemption granted in this section shall not be construed to extend to persons conducting, on the premises of the facility, businesses for which local or state taxes would otherwise be required.

H. Exemption from VITA. (specific language to be determined).

§ 32.1122.21. Health Workforce Advisory Committee.
The Commissioner shall establish a Health Workforce Advisory Committee to advise him on all aspects of the Department’s health workforce duties and responsibilities identified in this article. The Health Workforce Advisory Committee shall include representatives of (i) each of the Commonwealth’s academic health centers; (ii) the Statewide Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Program Healthcare Workforce Authority; (iii) the Virginia Primary Care Association; (iv) the Virginia Health Care Foundation; (v) the Virginia Association of Free Clinics; (vi) the Virginia Association of Nurse Executives; (vii) health care providers; (viii) health professions residents and students; and (ix) other organizations as deemed appropriate by the Commissioner. The Health Workforce Advisory Committee shall be dissolved upon appointment of the Board of Directors for the Authority.

It was suggested that the Board elect an executive committee that would be elected by the Board and comprised of several members of each of the three major sectors. The Executive Committee would be empowered by the Board to make and implement major organizational decisions. This would make the issue of a quorum and the larger size of the Board less unwieldy. This is not something we need to insert into the Code, but something to keep in mind as the Board develops by-laws.

Revised Draft Language

2009-11-13T02:01:00.009-05:00

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§ 32.1122.7 and 32.1122.21 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 32.1122.7:1 as follows:

§ 32.1122.7. Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority. purpose; Board of Directors.
A. There is hereby created as a public body corporate and as a political subdivision of the
Commonwealth the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority, with such public and corporate powers as are set forth in § 32.1122.7: 1. The Authority is hereby constituted a public instrumentality, exercising public and essential governmental functions with the power and purpose to provide for the health, welfare, convenience, knowledge, benefit, and prosperity of the residents of the Commonwealth and such other persons who might be served by the Authority. The Authority is being established to move the Commonwealth forward in achieving its vision of ensuring a quality health workforce for all Virginians.

The mission of the Authority is to facilitate the development of a statewide health professions pipeline that identifies, educates, recruits and retains a diverse, appropriately geographically distributed and culturally-competent quality workforce. The mission of the Authority is accomplished by: (i) providing the statewide infrastructure required for health workforce needs assessment and planning that maintains engagement by health professions training programs in decision-making and program implementation; (ii) serving as the advisory board and setting priorities for the Virginia Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Program; (iii) coordinating with and serving as a resource to relevant state, regional and local entities; including the Department of Health Professions Workforce Data Center, JLARC, and the Joint Commission on Health Care, the Southwest Virginia Graduate Medical Education Consortium, the Southwest Virginia Health Authority or any similar regional Health Authority that may in the future be developed and legislatively authorized; (iv) informing state and local policy development as it pertains to health care delivery, training and education; (v) identifying and promoting evidence based strategies for health workforce pipeline development and interdisciplinary health care service models, particularly those affecting rural and other underserved areas; (vi) supporting communities in their health workforce recruitment and retention efforts, and developing partnerships and promoting models of participatory engagement with businesses and community-based and social organizations to foster the integration of health care training and education; (vii) advocating for programs that will result in reducing the debt-load of newly trained health professionals; (viii) identifying high priority target areas within each region of the Commonwealth and working toward health workforce development initiatives that improve health measurably in those areas; and (ix) fostering or creating innovative health workforce development models that provide both health and economic benefits to the regions they serve.

B. The Authority shall be governed by a Board of Directors. The Commissioner of Health, with the assistance of recommendations from the Health Workforce Advisory Committee, shall appoint the Inaugural Board of Directors within three months of the enactment of this legislation. The composition of the Inaugural Board shall accurately reflect the geographic, racial and ethnic diversity found within the Commonwealth to the extent possible, with an emphasis on those areas and populations that are underserved and under-represented. Members of the Inaugural Board of Directors shall serve as the chair of a subcommittee comprised of stakeholders of their respective sectors and shall be responsible for obtaining input and representing the members of their sector during their term in Office. The Inaugural Board shall establish by-laws for the Authority within six months of their appointment. The by-laws should ensure continuity of representation by all sectors as reflected by the composition of the Inaugural Board.

The Inaugural Board shall be comprised of twenty (20) members and two ad hoc members, each representing a particular sector of the workforce pipeline. These include:

Health Professions Education Sector
• Dean from a dental school located in Virginia, or executive level designee – representing oral health
• Dean from an allopathic medical school located in Virginia, or executive level designee – representing allopathic training programs and physicians
• Dean from an osteopathic medical school located in Virginia, or executive level designee – representing osteopathic training programs and physicians
• Dean from a mid-level training program located in Virginia, or executive designee – representing mid-level health professionals
• Department Chair or designee in an educational institution located in Virginia that trains mental health professionals – representing mental health professionals
• Dean from a school of pharmacy located in Virginia, or executive level designee – representing pharmacy
• Dean from a school of nursing located in Virginia, or executive level designee – representing nursing
• Dean from a school of allied health located in Virginia, or executive level designee – representing allied health professions such as health administration, HIT, OT, PT
• Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System, or executive level designee – representing all other allied and ancillary health professions represented by the community college system such as laboratory techs, EMTs, office/admin support.

Health Facilities and Employer Sector
• A representative from a mental health agency or facility in an underserved area – representing community mental health
• A hospital industry representative from an underserved area – representing health facilities
• A representative from the Virginia Community Healthcare Association, or designee – representing the healthcare safety net
• A representative from a provider association (e.g., AAFP, AAP, VDA, VPHA, VOMA, MSV ) – representing the health professions industry

Community and Community Health Sector
• A representative appointed by the Board of the Older Dominion Partnership who has health or health care expertise - representing the needs of the aging population
• A representative from the Virginia Consortium for Health Philanthropy – representing health philanthropies
• An AHEC Center director or designee – representing the AHECs
• The Executive Director of the Virginia Rural Health Association or designee – representing rural health
• The Commissioner of Health or designee – representing public health and State agencies
• The Director of the Department of Health Professions or designee – representing the regulatory Boards and the Healthcare Workforce Data Center
• One citizen representative from an underserved area

Ad Hoc Members
• One advisory member of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules;
• One advisory member of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates

§ 32.1122.7:1. Powers and duties of the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority.
A. The Authority is authorized to serve as the incorporated Consortium of allopathic and osteopathic medical schools in Virginia as required by federal statute to qualify for the receipt of Area Health Education Center funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration Area Health Education Centers programs, legislatively mandated under the Public Health Service Act as amended, Title VII, Section 751, and (42 U.S.C. 294a); and to administer federal, state, and local programs as needed to carry out its public purpose and objectives. The Authority is further authorized to exercise independently the powers conferred by this section in furtherance of its corporate and public purposes,to benefit citizens and such other persons who might be served by the Authority.

B. The Authority is authorized to monitor, collect and track data pertaining to health care delivery, training and education from Virginia educational institutions and other entities as needed to carry out its public purpose and objectives in areas where such data efforts do not already exist.

C. The Authority shall have the authority to assess policies, engage in policy development and make policy recommendations.

D. The Authority shall have the authority to apply for and accept Federal, State and local (public and private) grants, loans, appropriations and donations; hire and compensate staff, including an Executive Director; rent, lease, buy, own, acquire and dispose of property, real or personal; participate in joint ventures, including to make contracts and other agreements, with public and private entities in order to carry out its public purpose and objectives; and make bylaws for the management and regulation of its affairs.

E. The Board of Directors shall report biennially the activities and recommendations of the Authority to the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, Secretary of Education, Secretary of Commerce and Trade, the State Board of Health, the Commissioner of Health, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, the Governor, the Joint Commission on Health Care and the General Assembly. In any reporting period where state general funds are appropriated to the Authority, the annual report shall include a detailed summary of how state general funds appropriated to the Authority were expended.

F. The Authority shall be exempt from the Personnel Act, Workforce Transition Act, Administrative Process Act, and Public Procurement Act. The provisions of Chapter 29 (§ 2.2-2900 et seq.) of Title 2.2, Chapter 32 (§ 2.2-3200 et seq.) of Title 2.2, Chapter 40 (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.) of Title 2.2, and Chapter 43 (§ 2.2-4300 et seq.) of Title 2.2 shall not apply to the Authority in the exercise of any power conferred under this chapter.

G. Exemption from taxes or assessments. The exercise of the powers granted by this article shall be in all respects for the benefit of the people of the Commonwealth, for the increase of their commerce and prosperity, and for the improvement of their health and living conditions, and as the operation and maintenance of projects by the Authority and the undertaking of activities in furtherance of the purpose of the Authority constitute the performance of essential governmental functions, the Authority shall not be required to pay any taxes or assessments upon any project or any property acquired or used by the Authority under the provisions of this article or upon the income therefrom, including sales and use taxes on tangible personal property used in the operations of the Authority. The exemption granted in this section shall not be construed to extend to persons conducting, on the premises of the facility, businesses for which local or state taxes would otherwise be required.

H. Exemption from VITA. (specific language to be determined).

§ 32.1122.21. Health Workforce Advisory Committee.
The Commissioner shall establish a Health Workforce Advisory Committee to advise him on all
aspects of the Department’s health workforce duties and responsibilities identified in this article. The
Health Workforce Advisory Committee shall include representatives of (i) each of the Commonwealth’s
academic health centers; (ii) the Statewide Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Program Healthcare
Workforce Authority; (iii) the Virginia Primary Care Association; (iv) the Virginia Health Care
Foundation; (v) the Virginia Association of Free Clinics; (vi) the Virginia Association of Nurse
Executives; (vii) health care providers; (viii) health professions residents and students; and (ix) other
organizations as deemed appropriate by the Commissioner. The Health Workforce Advisory Committee shall be dissolved upon appointment of the Board of Directors for the Authority.

Here is the final draft of all the recommended language based on input obtained to date. Please keep in mind that legislative services will take this and morph it so wordsmithing isn’t necessary. My main concern at this point is the size of the Inaugural Board. Twenty members is larger than what is generally recommended for an effective and efficient Board structure. Ideally, a Board has between 12 - 15 members. Please keep in mind that each representative is expected to be the spokesperson for a subcommittee. The subcommittee could and would have broad representation from any/all interested stakeholders. I welcome suggestions/recommendations for consolidating several of these Board seats if possible. Thanks again for your engagement in this process!

A Very Rough Attempt At Draft Language

2009-11-10T19:38:00.007-05:00

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 32.1122.7 and 32.1122.21 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 32.1122.7:1 as follows:

§ 32.1122.7. Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority. purpose; Board of Directors.

A. There is hereby created as a public body corporate and as a political subdivision of theCommonwealth the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority, with such public and corporate powers as are set forth in § 32.1122.7: 1. The Authority is hereby constituted a public instrumentality, exercising public and essential governmental functions with the power and purpose to provide for the health, welfare, convenience, knowledge, benefit, and prosperity of the residents of the Commonwealth and such other persons who might be served by the Authority. The Authority is being established to move the Commonwealth forward in achieving its vision of ensuring a quality health workforce for all Virginians.

The mission of the Authority is to facilitate the development of a statewide health professions pipeline that identifies, educates, recruits and retains a diverse, appropriately geographically distributed and culturally-competent quality workforce. The mission of the Authority is accomplished by: (i) providing the statewide infrastructure required for health workforce needs assessment and planning that maintains engagement by health professions training programs in decision-making and program implementation; (ii) serving as the advisory board and setting priorities for the Virginia Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Program; (iii) coordinating with and serving as a resource to relevant state, regional and local entities; including the Department of Health Professions Workforce Data Center, JLARC, and the Joint Commission on Health Care, the Southwest Virginia Graduate Medical Education Consortium, the Southwest Virginia Health Authority or any similar regional Health Authority that may in the future be developed and legislatively authorized; (iv) informing state and local policy development impacting health care delivery, training and education; (v) identifying and promoting evidence based strategies for health workforce pipeline development and interdisciplinary health care service models, particularly those affecting rural and other underserved areas; (vi) supporting communities in their health workforce recruitment and retention efforts and developing partnerships and promoting models of participatory engagement with businesses and community-based and social organizations to foster the integration of health care training and education; (vii) advocating for programs that will result in reducing the debt-load of health professionals;(viii) identifying high priority target areas within each region of the Commonwealth and working toward health workforce development initiatives that improve health measurably in those areas; and (ix) fostering or creating innovative health workforce development models that provide both health and economic benefits to the regions they serve.

B. The Authority shall be governed by a Board of Directors. The Commissioner of Health, with the assistance of recommendations from the Health Workforce Advisory Committee, shall appoint the Inaugural Board of Directors within six months of the enactment of this legislation. The composition of the Inaugural Board should accurately reflect the geographic and racial/ethnic diversity found within the Commonwealth, with an emphasis on those areas that are underserved. Members of the Inaugural Board of Directors will serve as the chair of a subcommittee that is comprised of stakeholders of their respective sectors and will be responsible for obtaining input and representing their sector during their term in Office. Members of the Inaugural Board will be responsible for establishing by-laws within six months to ensure the continuity of representation as reflected by this stakeholder input process.

The Inaugural Board will be comprised of sixteen (16) members and two ad hoc members, each representing a particular sector of the workforce pipeline. These include:

Health Professions Education/Training Sector

o Dean from a dental school located in Virginia, or executive level designee – representing oral health

o Dean from a medical school located in Virginia, or executive level designee – representing physicians

o Dean from a mid-level school/program located in Virginia, or executive designee – representing mid-level health professionals

o Department Chair or designee in an educational institution located in Virginia that has a program that focuses on training mental health professionals – representing mental health professionals

o Dean from a school of pharmacy located in Virginia, or executive level designee – representing pharmacy

o Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System, or executive level designee – representing all other allied health professions to include, but not be limited to laboratory techs, HIT, RNs, OT, PT, EMS and office/admin support.

Health Facilities and Business/Employer Sector

o A representative from a mental health agency/facility in an underserved area – representing community mental health

o A hospital industry representative in an underserved area – representing health facilities

o A representative from the Virginia Community Healthcare Association, or designee – representing the healthcare safety net

o A representative from a professional association (e.g., AAFP, AAP, VDA, VPHA) – representing the health professions industry

Community and Community Health Sector

o A representative from the Older Dominion Partnership Healthcare and Long-term Care Work Group or designee - representing the needs of the aging population and Virginia philanthropies

o AHEC director or designee – representing the AHECs

o Executive Director of the Virginia Rural Health Association or designee – representing rural health

o Director of VDH's Office of Minority Health and Public Health Policy, or designee – representing public health and State agencies

o Director, Department of Health Professions – representing the regulatory Boards and the Healthcare Workforce Data Center

o One citizen/stakeholder rep from an underserved area

Ad Hoc Members

o One advisory member of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules;

o One advisory member of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates

§ 32.1122.7:1. Powers and duties of the Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority.

A. The Authority is authorized to serve as the incorporated Consortium of allopathic and osteopathic medical schools in Virginia as required by federal statute to qualify for the receipt of Area Health Education Center funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration Area Health Education Centers programs, legislatively mandated under the Public Health Service Act as amended, Title VII, Section 751, and (42 U.S.C. 294a); and to administer federal, state, and local programs as needed to carry out its public purpose and objectives. The Authority is further authorized to exercise independently the powers conferred by this section in furtherance of its corporate and public purposes, to benefit citizens and such other persons who might be served by the Authority.

B. The Authority is authorized to monitor, collect and track data pertaining to health care delivery, training and education from Virginia educational institutions and other entities as needed to carry out its public purpose and objectives where such data efforts do not already exist.

C. The Authority shall have the authority to assess policies, engage in policy development and make policy recommendations.

D. The Authority shall have the authority to apply for and accept Federal, State and local (public and private) grants, loans, appropriations and donations; hire and compensate staff, including an Executive Director; rent, lease, buy, own, acquire and dispose of property, real or personal; participate in joint ventures, including to make contracts and other agreements, with public and private entities in order to carry out its public purpose and objectives; and make bylaws for the management and regulation of its affairs.

E. The Board of Directors shall report biennially the activities and recommendations of the Authority to the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, Secretary of Education, Secretary of Commerce and Trade, the State Board of Health, the Commissioner of Health, the Governor, the Joint Commission on Health Care and the General Assembly. In any reporting period where state general funds are appropriated to the Authority, the report shall include a detailed summary of how state general funds were expended.

Exemption of Authority from Personnel Act, Workforce Transition Act, Administrative Process Act, and Public Procurement Act.

The provisions of Chapter 29 (§ 2.2-2900 et seq.) of Title 2.2, Chapter 32 (§ 2.2-3200 et seq.) of Title 2.2, Chapter 40 (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.) of Title 2.2, and Chapter 43 (§ 2.2-4300 et seq.) of Title 2.2 shall not apply to the Authority in the exercise of any power conferred under this chapter.

Exemption from taxes or assessments.

The exercise of the powers granted by this article shall be in all respects for the benefit of the people of the Commonwealth, for the increase of their commerce and prosperity, and for the improvement of their health and living conditions, and as the operation and maintenance of projects by the Authority and the undertaking of activities in furtherance of the purpose of the Authority constitute the performance of essential governmental functions, the Authority shall not be required to pay any taxes or assessments upon any project or any property acquired or used by the Authority under the provisions of this article or upon the income therefrom, including sales and use taxes on tangible personal property used in the operations of the Authority. The exemption granted in this section shall not be construed to extend to persons conducting, on the premises of the facility, businesses for which local or state taxes would otherwise be required.

Exemption from VITA.

(Specific language is unknown)

Here is the first attempt at a VERY rough content draft of all the recommended language combined based on input obtained to date. Please keep in mind that legislative services will take this and morph it so wordsmithing isn’t necessary. If anything here gives you severe heartburn and you absolutely cannot live with it, please let me know ASAP, but definitely by Thursday nite. Thanks for your engagement in this process!

Draft Recommendation - Name of the Authority

2009-10-26T00:11:00.009-04:00

Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority

Rationale: Other ideas considered include the Virginia Health Care Workforce Authority and the Virginia Health Workforce Authority. Stakeholders recommended removing the word "Care" because many health professions are not in the business of delivering direct patient care (e.g., HIT, Administrative Support). Stakeholders also recommended including the word "Development" because it did not want this proposed Authority to be confused with the Department of Health Professions Healthcare Workforce Data Center and did not want to be perceived as yet another data/analysis entity. The word "Development" conveys involvement in programmatic and policy activities. The desire of stakeholders is for this Authority to be able to connect the data and recommendations from data and legislative study reports to the implementation of programs.

Please use the comment section to provide us with feedback...does this name accurately reflect the vision and mission? Will it be too easily confused with other entities already in existence in Virginia? Do you have recommendations for something better?

Draft Recommendation - Vision Statement

2009-10-25T22:00:00.002-04:00

Ensuring a quality health workforce for all Virginians

Please use the comment section to provide us with feedback...does this vision statement accurately capture what is hoped to be accomplished? Is anything missing? Do you have recommendations for something better?

Draft Recommendation - Statement of Public Purpose (Mission)

2009-10-25T18:48:00.006-04:00

To facilitate the development of a statewide health professions pipeline that identifies, educates, recruits and retains a diverse, appropriately geographically distributed and culturally-competent quality workforce.

Edits made as a result of public comments posted on this blog are in blue.

Please use the comment section to provide us with feedback...does this statement of public purpose (mission) accurately reflect the scope of what we want accomplished through the development of an Authority structure? Is there anything missing? Do you have recommendations for something better?

Draft Recommendation - Objectives

2009-10-25T16:30:00.030-04:00

The mission of the Authority is accomplished by:

providing the statewide infrastructure required for health workforce needs assessment and planning that maintains engagement by health professions training programs in decision-making and program implementation;
~~establishing a comprehensive advisory structure that sets~~ serving as the advisory board and setting priorities for the Virginia Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Program;
coordinating with and serving as ~~in an advisory capacity~~ a resource to relevant state, regional and local entities; including the Department of Health Professions Workforce Data Center, JLARC, ~~and~~ the Joint Commission on Health Care, the Southwest Virginia Graduate Medical Education Consortium, the Southwest Virginia Health Authority or any similar regional Health Authority that may in the future be developed and legislatively authorized;
informing state and local policy development impacting health care delivery, training and education;
identifying and promoting evidence based strategies for health workforce pipeline development and interdisciplinary health care service models, particularly those affecting rural and other underserved areas;
supporting communities in their health workforce recruitment and retention efforts and developing partnerships and promoting models of participatory engagement with businesses and community-based ~~and~~ ~~social~~ organizations ~~that~~ to foster the integration of health care training and education;
advocating for programs that will result in reducing the student debt-load;
identifying high priority target areas within each region of the Commonwealth and working toward health workforce development initiatives that improve health measurably in those areas; and
fostering or creating innovative health workforce development models that provide both health and economic benefits to the regions they serve.

Edits made as a result of public comments posted on this blog are in blue.

Please use the comment section to provide us with feedback...do these objectives align with the vision and mission statements? Are they sufficient in scope and do they accurately reflect the right priorities? Do you have recommendations for something better?

Draft Recommendation - Representation

2009-10-25T16:00:00.014-04:00

The Authority shall be governed by a Board of Directors. The composition of the Board shall be established in Code to include the following types of representation:

Geographic representation

through representation by AHEC regions
through representation by the various types of medically underserved areas (rural, urban, suburban)

Legislative representation through ex-oficio advisory members
Representation by under-represented racial and ethnic populations
Representation by State agencies/officials (e.g., Education, Health and Human Resources, SCHEV, DHP Healthcare Workforce Data Center, VCCS)
Representation by health professions, health-related associations and organizations and health facility sectors (e.g., academic health centers, public and private businesses and institutions, EMS, hospitals, philanthropies)

Each major sector should have its own subcommittee, with each subcommittee electing one representative to serve on the Board
Organizational representatives should hold a position that has both decision making authority and an understanding of how to access and leverage resources

Edits made as a result of public comments posted on this blog are in blue.

Please use the comment section to provide us with feedback...do these recommendations provide us with the type of representation needed to efficiently and effectively accomplish the mission and objectives of the authority? Are there some individuals or organizations missing that must be at the table? Do you have any recommendations for additions or edits?

Draft Recommendation - Powers and Duties

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The Authority shall have the following powers and duties established in Code in order for it to effectively accomplish its public purpose and objectives:

Ability to ~~administer the federal AHEC program~~ serve as the incorporated Consortium of allopathic and osteopathic medical schools in Virginia as required by federal statute to qualify for the receipt of Area Health Education Center funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration Area Health Education Centers programs, legislatively mandated under the Public Health Service Act as amended, Title VII, Section 751, and (42 U.S.C. 294a); and to administer federal, state and local programs as needed to carry out its public purpose and objectives.
Ability to monitor, collect and track data pertaining to health care delivery, training and education from Virginia educational institutions and other entities as needed to carry out its public purpose and objectives where such data efforts do not already exist ~~in order~~ .
Responsibility to submit a biennial report to the ~~Commissioner~~ State Board of Health, Commissioner of Health, Secretary of Health and Human Resources, Secretary of Education, Secretary of Commerce and Trade, Governor, Joint Commission on Health Care and General Assembly ~~annually~~ on its activities and recommendations. In any reporting period where state general funds are appropriated to the Authority, the report shall include a detailed summary of how state general funds were expended.
Ability to apply for and accept Federal, State and local (public and private) grants, loans, appropriations and donations to carry out its public purpose and objectives.
Ability to hire and compensate staff, including an Executive Director
Ability to rent, lease, buy, own, acquire and dispose of property, real or personal
Ability to participate in joint ventures, including to make contracts and other agreements, with public and private entities to carry out its public purpose and objectives
Ability to assess policies, engage in policy development and make policy recommendations
Ability to make bylaws for the management and regulation of its affairs
Exemption from taxes and assessments
Exemption from Personnel Act, Workforce Transition Act, Administrative Process Act, Public Procurement Act and VITA.

Please use the comment section to provide us with feedback...do these recommendations provide us with the type of powers needed to efficiently and effectively accomplish the mission and objectives of the authority? Are there some things missing? Do you have any recommendations for additions or edits?

Stakeholder Representation

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The following individuals and organizations have had the opportunity to provide input on this proposed legislation through a series of meetings and conference calls. It is their input that has resulted in this consolidated final draft of recommendations found on this blog site:

Susan Alford (Southwest Virginia AHEC/Graduate Medical Education Education Consortium)
Bob Alpino (EVMS/Eastern Virginia AHEC)
Beverly Beck (Virginia Department of Health Professions)
Richardean Benjamin (Old Dominion University - Health Sciences/Virginia Partnership for Nursing)
Linda Bohanon (Virginia AHEC)
Steve Bowman (Joint Commission on Health Care)
Barbara Brown (Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association)
Beverly Brown (VSU - Nursing)
Thelma Burris (Center/Council for Rural Virginia)
David Cattell-Gordon (UVA Health System/Southwest Virginia Health Authority)
Maggie Coher (EVMS/Eastern Virginia Area Health Education Center)
Don Combs (EVMS)
Jeff Cribbs (Richmond Memorial Health Foundation)
Karen Day (Virgina Department of Health - Dental)
John Dreyzehner (Virginia Department of Health - Cumberland Plateau/Southwest Virginia Health Authority)
Millie Flynn (VCU - Nursing)
Betsy Hagan (Virginia Dental Association)
Kevin Harris (VCU-MCV)
Maria Harris (Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine)
Bill Hightower (Virginia Community College System)
Ralph Howell (Virginia Dental Association)
Cynda Johnson (Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine)
Dallice Joyner (Northern Virginia AHEC)
Regina Kennedy (South Central AHEC)
Alden Kent (JMU - Health Sciences)
Margaret King (Virginia Community Healthcare Association)
Denise Daly Konrad (Nurse Leadership Institute of Virginia/Richmond Memorial Health Foundation)
Anton Kuzel (VCU - Family Medicine)
Colleen Kraft (Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine)
Susannah Lepley (JMU/Blue Ridge AHEC)
PJ Maddox (George Mason University Center for Public Policy)
Susan West Marmagas (Virginia Public Health Association)
Gary Matzke (VCU - Pharmacy)
Janet McDaniel (Virginia State Rural Health Plan Workforce Council/Virginia Rural Health Resource Center)
Dennis Means (Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine)
Anthony A. Miller (Shenandoah University - Physician Assistant Studies)
Susan Motley (Virginia Nurses Association)
Beth O'Connor (Virginia Rural Health Association/Virginia Rural Health Resource Center)
Mary Alice O'Donnell (VCU Health System - Residency Programs)
Peter Paganussi (Virginia Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians)
Ann Peton (Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine)
James Pickral (Virginia Nurses Association/Virginia Pharmacists Association)
Karen Purcell (Capital AHEC)
Gary Race (JMU/Blue Ridge AHEC)
Thomas Reinders (VCU - Pharmacy)
Karen Rheuban (UVC School of Medicine/Southwest Virginia Health Authority)
Kim Riley (Virginia Community Healthcare Association)
Beth Reinhardt (Wellmont Health System)
David Sarrett (VCU-MCV/Virginia AHEC)
Mara Servaites (Virginia State Rural Health Plan)
Rick Shinn (Virginia Community Healthcare Association)
Mike Solhaug (EVMS)
Sarah Jane Stewart (Virginia Health Care Foundation)
Shelley Stinson (Medical Society of Virginia)
Jerry Strauss (VCU School of Medicine)
Wayne Terry (Southside AHEC)
Dixie Tooke-Rawlins (Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine)
Amanda Welbourne (Shenandoah University - Physician Assistant Studies)
Michelle Whitehurst-Cook (VCU School of Medicine)
Jane Wills (Rappahannock AHEC)
Scott Winston (Virginia Department of Health Office of Emergency Medical Services)
Brian Wood (Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine/Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine/Psychiatric Society of Virginia

Edits made as a result of public comments posted on this blog are in blue.

If your name was inadvertently left off the list, misspelled, or your affiliation incorrectly stated, please accept my apologies! Please make any corrections to this list as a comment below so that it is accurately reflected in the legislative study report!