Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill
SB 500: Health insurance; prior authorization for health care services.
In committee Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
SB 500 is a bill introduced in the Virginia Senate on January 13, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Health insurance; prior authorization for health care services. Primary sponsor: Bill DeSteph (Republican). Most recent recorded action (January 26, 2026): Passed by indefinitely in Commerce and Labor (9-Y 6-N).
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.
Health insurance; prior authorization for health care services. Decreases from 72 hours to 24 hours and from seven days to five days the time by which a health insurance carrier is required to respond to expedited and standard requests for prior authorization for health care services, respectively. The bill prohibits a carrier from (i) denying a claim for the provision of dental services by a dentist or oral surgeon for failure to obtain prior authorization if the dentist or oral surgeon calls the dental plan during business hours to obtain such prior authorization and is unable to reach the dental plan or is placed on hold for longer than 15 minutes and (ii) downcoding a claim if a prior authorization was approved. The bill requires carriers to establish a system in which providers with high prior authorization approval rates are not required to obtain prior authorization for routine health care services. Additionally, the bill provides that if a prior authorization request is denied, the carrier is required to notify providers and enrollees if artificial-intelligence based tools were used in reviewing the request.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 1
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill DeSteph | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 20 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Passed by indefinitely in Commerce and Labor (9-Y 6-N)
- Senate committee offered
- Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
- Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105340D