The Joint Commission on Health Care was created by the 1992 Session of the Virginia General Assembly, pursuant to Senate Bill 501 and House Bill 1032. This sixteen-member legislative commission, with a separately staffed agency, continues the work of the Commission on Health Care for All Virginians (Senate Joint Resolution 118, 1990 Session).

The Joint Commission is authorized in § 9-311 et. seq., of the Code of Virginia. The purpose of the Commission is to study, report and make recommendations on all areas of health care provision, regulation, insurance, liability, licensing, and delivery of services. In so doing, the Commission endeavors to ensure that the greatest number of Virginians receives quality health care.