Virginia
State Facts
Deaths, or 75.8% of total overdose deaths involved opioids in 2024.¹
Opioid Prescriptions were written for every 100 persons in Virginia in 2023.²
Beneficiaries on Medicare Part D had Opioid Use Disorder in 2022.³
was the cost of the opioid epidemic to Virginia in 2021.⁴
Opioid Settlement Funds
Support efforts to prevent overprescribing and ensure appropriate prescribing and dispensing of opioids through evidence-based or evidence-informed methods, programs, or strategies
Member & Endorser Footprint
Co-Sponsors (119th)
Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA-9)
Sen. Time Kaine (D-VA)
Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA)
2024 Passed Relevant Legislation
CHAPTER 448
Provides that the Boards of Medicine, Optometry, Dentistry, and Medicine and Nursing update their regulations to require that prescribers of opioid medication discuss certain risks with the patient being prescribed such a medication and document this counseling in the medical record. Exceptions are provided for certain medical circumstances (e.g., hospice or cancer care).
Effective date
01/09/20252025 Introduced Relevant Legislation
HB 1765
Requires the Boards of Medicine, Optometry, Dentistry, and Nursing to update their regulations mandating that prescribers of opioid medications discuss specific risks with patients and document these discussions in the medical record. Exceptions are allowed for certain medical circumstances, such as hospice or cancer care.
Introduced
01/05/2025Plan Impact
CommercialHouse Amendment 288 #38h, and House Amendment 288 #51h - Medicaid Parity in Treatment of Non Opioid and Opioid Drugs
These budget amendments ensure that FDA-approved non-opioid pain treatments are not disadvantaged or discouraged in coverage compared to opioids. This includes preventing the use of prior authorisation or step therapy requirements that are more restrictive than those applied to opioid medications.
Introduced
01/17/2025Plan Impact
MedicaidSenate Amendment Item 288 #26s, Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee Drug Recommendations
This budget amendment ensures that FDA approved non-opioid pain treatments are not disadvantaged or discouraged in coverage compared to opioids. This includes preventing the use of prior authorization or step therapy requirements that are more restrictive than those applied to opioid medications
Introduced
01/17/2025Voices Letters
HB 1765 Sign on Support Letter
House Budget Amendments Voices + Virginia Rural Health Association Support Letter
Senate Budget Amendments Voices + Virginia Rural Health Association Support Letter
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2025). Provisional Drug Overdose Death Counts. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/drug-overdose-data.htm
2. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2024). Opioid Dispensing Rate Maps. https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/data-research/facts-stats/opioid-dispensing-rate-maps.html
3. Office of the Inspector General (2023). The Consistently Low Percentage of Medicare Enrollees Receiving Medication to Treat Their Opioid Use Disorder Remains a Concern. https://oig.hhs.gov/documents/evaluation/2722/OEI-02-23-00250-Complete%20Report.pdf
4. Virginia Commonwealth University (2024). Opioid Costs in Virginia. https://news.vcu.edu/article/2024/01/the-opioid-epidemic-cost-virginians-5-billion-in-2021-new-data-shows