CHAPTER 488
An Act to direct the Department of Health to amend its regulations on coverage for nursery services to allow certain certified nurse midwives, licensed certified midwives, or pediatric nurse practitioners to be on the 24-hour on-call duty roster for general level newborn nursery services.
[H 1904]
Approved March 24, 2025
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. 1. The Department of Health shall amend subdivision C 1 of 12VAC5-410-444 of the Virginia Administrative Code to permit, for hospitals that provide general level newborn nursery services:
1. If a physician is not available, a certified nurse midwife, licensed certified midwife, or pediatric nurse practitioner to be on the 24-hour on-call duty roster for nursery care. In order to be on the 24-hour on-call duty roster, such health care providers shall have pediatric privileges and a neonatal resuscitation certification from the American Academy of Pediatrics, including endotracheal intubation training. Such health care providers shall be subject to the same requirement that applies to physicians regarding their capability of arriving on site within 30 minutes of notification.
2. A physician to provide consultation via telehealth, including audio-only consultation, when a certified nurse midwife, licensed certified midwife, or pediatric nurse practitioner is providing coverage for the 24-hour on-call duty roster and a physician is incapable of arriving on site within 30 minutes of notification.