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Healthcare and Life Sciences

Virginia’s healthcare and life sciences sectors are essential to the Commonwealth’s economy and quality of life. The demand for innovative, accessible, and equitable healthcare solutions continues to accelerate, driven by an aging population, advances in biotechnology, and a growing emphasis on public health.
Virginia is uniquely positioned to lead in this evolving landscape, with world-class research institutions, a thriving biotechnology and life sciences industry, a growing healthcare workforce, and a commitment to expanding access and improving outcomes for all residents. We must continue to invest in cutting-edge research, workforce development, public-private partnerships, digital health innovation, and rural healthcare access.

The recommendations in this section provide a comprehensive policy framework to allow every Virginia community to benefit from high-quality, innovative healthcare services and position the Commonwealth as a global hub for life sciences research, commercialization, and job creation through 2035 and beyond.

Recommendations

  • Expand access to affordable preventive and primary healthcare services by supporting initiatives that increase access to screenings, pharmacy services, vaccinations, wellness visits, and chronic disease management—especially in rural and underserved communities
  • Promote public-private partnerships to address social drivers of health by encouraging collaboration between healthcare providers, businesses, local governments, and nonprofits to improve access to housing, transportation, childcare, eldercare, healthy food, and safe environments
  • Leverage technology and telehealth to improve efficient access and integrated coordination of care by expanding broadband and digital health tools to improve care delivery, particularly for rural and aging populations
  • Address health disparities and advance health equity by supporting data-driven initiatives that identify disparities and direct resources toward communities facing the greatest barriers to optimal health
  • Improve health literacy and community education by supporting statewide campaigns and community-based education efforts that empower individuals to make informed health decisions
  • Encourage healthcare providers and insurers to continue to improve access to clear, timely, transparent, and understandable pricing and quality information for patients and employers
  • Transition from fee-for-service to value-based payment models that use consistent metrics to incentivize better health outcomes, care coordination, and cost efficiency
  • Endorse policies and payment models that address whole person care and integrate mental health, substance use disorder services, primary care, and pharmacy services to improve outcomes and reduce duplicative costs
  • Support employer-sponsored health coverage and the important role it plays for employers to offer health benefits to their employees
  • Promote policies and initiatives that provide greater support for employees with caregiving responsibilities for both children and adults
  • Establish and expand targeted incentives, such as the Virginia Department of Health’s Nursing Preceptor Incentive Program, to encourage practicing healthcare professionals—especially in high-demand fields—to serve as instructors, preceptors, and mentors in clinical and academic training programs
  • Enhance state support for Virginia’s medical, nursing, dental, allied health, behavioral health, and life sciences training programs, at both public and private nonprofit educational institutions, including the Commonwealth’s Earn to Learn and Graduate Medical Education programs and tuition assistance and loan repayment programs tied to in-state service
  • Strengthen the statewide expansion of the Blue Ridge Partnership for Health Sciences model to address regional workforce needs

Acknowledgements

Healthcare Industry Council

CO-CHAIR
Mark S. Lawrence
Carilion Clinic

CO-CHAIR
Karen Velkey
HII

Rosanna Blakley
Huntington National Bank

Ryan G. Bosch, MD, FACP
Acentra Health

Liz DeMatteis
Marathon Health

Chris Dickens
Mercer

William Downey
Riverside Health (Retired)

Claudia Duck Tucker
Teladoc Health

Mark Duncan
Riverside Health

Chris Ellis
Huntington National Bank

Michael Forehand
Inova Health System

John Funderburk
Phlow

Nathan Funk
Gainwell Technologies

Geoff Gallo
AstraZeneca

Dr. Vaishali Geib
Cigna

Amy Godkin
ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation

Rick Gordon
Sentara Health

Nanette Graham
Germanna Community College

Karah Gunther
VCU Health System

Melissa Hale
Centra Health

Ann Harbour
Johns Hopkins University and Medicine

Breeann Hoerning
Clarvida

Jonathan Ijaz
Merck

Tony Isom
Acadia Healthcare

Anna James
Sentara Health

Darrell Jessee
LifeNet Health

Catherine Kelley Silva
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield

Mark LaRosa
Augusta Health

Mary Mannix
Augusta Health

Mercer May
Teladoc Health

Angela McCoy
MyEyeDr.

Carol McIlhenny
Quest Diagnostics

Anna McKean
Master Center

Don McNeill
Forvis Mazars, LLP

Elizabeth Meyers
United Concordia Dental

Kirsta Millar
Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation

Dr. Michael Myers
Quoin Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Robert Nelson, IV
Genentech

Ahmad Nessar, PharmD
Genentech

Tim Nolan
Gainwell Technologies

Jessica Nolen
Quest Diagnostics

Nick Pace
Ensemble Health Partners

Ashish Patel
Quest Diagnostics

Phil Poley
Gainwell Technologies

Brent Rawlings
Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association

Kathleen Reichert
American Skin Association

Xavier Richardson
Mary Washington Healthcare

Russell Ring
Roche Diagnostics

Rhodes B. Ritenour
Bon Secours Virginia Health System

Allison Rollins
AstraZeneca

Chris Rucker
Valley Health

Katy Sawyer
Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation

Monica Schmude
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia

Danielle Shearer
Ensemble Health Partners

Jennifer Siciliano
UVA Health

Nick Simoff
Marathon Health

David Skolnick
Truist

Paul Speidell
CVS Health

Doris Stanfield
Novo Nordisk

Michelle Storbakken
QuadMed

Bryant Thomas
Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters

Warren VanDerWaag
Truist

Jimmy Varghese
LabCorp

Aubrey Varraux
Centra Health

Michael Viveiros
Quest Diagnostics

Christopher West
Kaiser Permanente

Natalie Williamson
UnitedHealthcare

Lindsay Berry Winter
Amazon

Nicole Palya Wood
PhRMA

View Acknowledgements

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