Virginia SB745 - Prohibited Restrictions on In-Network Referrals
Summary
Virginia enacted SB745 prohibiting health insurance carriers from prohibiting in-network providers from referring enrollees or specimens to any in-network clinical laboratory or pathology service provider, unless such referral would violate certain laws. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies to all health insurance carriers operating in Virginia.
What changed
Virginia SB745 adds new restrictions on health insurance carriers by prohibiting them from restricting in-network providers from making referrals to other in-network clinical laboratories and pathology service providers. The law removes prior limitations that allowed carriers to control referral pathways within their networks.
Health insurance carriers operating in Virginia must ensure their network contracts and utilization management policies comply with the new referral freedom requirements by July 1, 2026. In-network clinical laboratories and pathology service providers gain guaranteed access to patient referrals without carrier interference, potentially affecting network contracting dynamics and carrier utilization review programs.
What to do next
- Review and update referral policies to remove restrictions on in-network referrals to clinical laboratories and pathology providers
- Communicate changes to network providers regarding the new referral rights
- Implement compliance measures ahead of the July 1, 2026 effective date
Source document (simplified)
ChangeBridge / Virginia / SB745 Signed by Governor SB745 Senate Bill Signed by Governor 2026-04-06
Health insurance; definitions, prohibited restrictions on in-network referrals.
Health insurance; prohibited restrictions on in-network referrals. Prohibits a health insurance carrier from prohibiting an in-network provider, as defined in the bill, from referring any enrollee or specimen to any in-network clinical laboratory or in-network pathology service provider under the terms of such insurance unless such referral would constitute a violation of certain laws. This bill is identical to HB 424.
Bill Details
State Virginia
Session 2026 Regular Regular Session
Chamber Senate
Official Source lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB745
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Sponsors
Kannan Srinivasan (Sen - D)
Action History
2026-04-06 Approved by Governor-Chapter 139 (effective 7/1/2026) 2026-04-06 Approved by Governor-Chapter 139 (effective 7/1/2026) 2026-03-10 Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 2026-03-10 S Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 2026-03-03 S Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB745) 2026-02-26 S Signed by President 2026-02-26 H Signed by Speaker 2026-02-26 S Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB745ER) 2026-02-26 S Enrolled 2026-02-24 H Passed House (98-Y 0-N 0-A) 2026-02-24 H Read third time 2026-02-23 H Read second time 2026-02-19 H Reported from Labor and Commerce (20-Y 0-N) 2026-02-13 H Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce 2026-02-13 H Read first time 2026-02-13 H Placed on Calendar 2026-02-10 S Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) 2026-02-10 S Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) 2026-02-10 S Rules suspended 2026-02-10 S Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote) 2026-02-10 S Commerce and Labor Substitute agreed to 2026-02-10 S Read second time 2026-02-09 S Passed by for the day 2026-02-09 S Passed by for the day (Voice Vote) 2026-02-09 S Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) 2026-02-09 S Rules suspended 2026-02-05 S Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N) 2026-01-27 S Committee substitute printed 26106219D-S1 2026-01-26 S Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N) 2026-01-26 S Senate committee offered 2026-01-26 S Senate committee offered 2026-01-19 S Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor 2026-01-19 S Presented and ordered printed 26105075D
Votes
2026-01-26 Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N) Yea: 15 Nay: 0 2026-02-05 Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N) Yea: 15 Nay: 0 2026-02-09 Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) Yea: 40 Nay: 0 2026-02-10 Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 3rd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) Yea: 40 Nay: 0 2026-02-10 Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) Yea: 40 Nay: 0 2026-02-19 Reported from Labor and Commerce (20-Y 0-N) Yea: 20 Nay: 0 2026-02-24 Passed House (98-Y 0-N 0-A) Yea: 98 Nay: 0
Committee Referrals
2026-01-19 S Commerce and Labor 2026-01-26 S Finance and Appropriations 2026-02-13 H Labor and Commerce
Bill Text Versions
2026-01-19 Introduced 2026-01-26 Comm Sub 2026-01-27 Comm Sub 2026-02-26 Enrolled Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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