During 1999, the Joint Commission responded to an unprecedented 29 legislative requests for studies on a wide range of health care issues. The full Commission held nine meetings in 1999, as well as one additional meeting in January, 2000, prior to the 2000 Session of the General Assembly. All meetings were held in the General Assembly Building in Richmond. The following paragraphs summarize the proceedings of each meeting.

At the April 9th meeting, staff presented a final status report on the Joint Commission's 1999 legislation, and an overview of the 1999 workplan. Staff also presented reports on three studies: (i) the incidence and reporting of Lyme disease, (ii) organ donation and transplantation issues, and (iii) the availability of and access to acupuncture services.

At the May 18th meeting, staff presented reports on two studies: (i) prenatal and obstetrical medical education, and (ii) the incidence, prevalence and impact of asthma.

Dennis G. Smith, Director of the Department of Medical Assistance Services, presented a status report on the Virginia Children's Medical Security Insurance Plan.

The June 29th meeting included staff presentations on three studies regarding: (i) the need to collect additional health workforce data on Virginia nurses, (ii) Virginia's statewide cancer registry, and (iii) various licensure issues in long-term care.

At the July 27th meeting, staff presented reports on four studies regarding: (i) the cost of providing Medicaid coverage for organ transplants for eligible adults, (ii) assisted living facilities and services for vulnerable adults in long-term care facilities, (iii) the advisability of licensing and regulating direct-entry midwives, and (iv) increasing access to dental care across the Commonwealth.

Susan L. Clark, President, Virginia League of Social Services Executives, presented an update on outreach and enrollment issues regarding the Virginia Children's Medical Security Insurance Plan.

The September 15th meeting included staff presentations on two studies regarding: (i) the Commonwealth's health workforce programs to recruit and retain health care providers in underserved areas of the state, and (ii) the oversight and regulation of renal dialysis and mammography facilities and services.

E. Anne Peterson, M.D., M.P.H., State Health Commissioner, Virginia Department of Health, and Alfred W. Gross, Commissioner, State Corporation Commission's Bureau of Insurance, presented a status report on managed care oversight and regulation.

Donald R. Stern, M.D., Director, Virginia Department of Health's Family Health Services, and Timothy R. Shaver, M.D., President of the Virginia Transplant Council, presented a report on the Virginia Transplant Council's Strategic Plan.

Joy Hogan Rozman, Chief Executive Officer of the Virginia Health Quality Center (VHQC), presented a report on VHQC's activities and functions.

The October 13th meeting included staff presentations on studies regarding: (i) therapeutic interchange of chemically dissimilar drugs (drug switching), and (ii) increasing the awareness and use of advanced medical directives.

Three reports were presented regarding various issues involving telemedicine: (i) staff presented a summary of a telemedicine report prepared by the Department of Medical Assistance Services regarding benefit coverage and reimbursement issues; (ii) E. Anne Peterson, M.D., M.P.H., State Health Commissioner, Virginia Department of Health, presented a status report on telemedicine initiatives in the Commonwealth; and (iii) Murray D. Rosenberg, Department of Technology Planning, presented a report regarding the compatibility of telemedicine equipment purchased by state agencies.

Dr. Peterson also presented a status report on the "Turning Point" initiative. L. Robert Bolling, Director of the Office of Minority Health, Virginia Department of Health, presented a report on the African-American health status task force and health forum.

During the November 16th meeting, staff presented reports on two studies regarding: (i) several health insurance issues (pooled purchasing for small groups, the impact of managed care on ancillary medical services, group insurance for self-employed persons, assignment of benefits, group self-insurance associations, and various issues regarding Medicare managed care insurance and Medicare supplemental coverage for disabled and low-income beneficiaries); and (ii) the financial and operational issues affecting Virginia's three academic health centers.

Clarence H. Carter, Commissioner, Department of Social Services, presented an update on the Virginia Children's Medical Security Insurance Plan. E. Anne Peterson, M.D., M.P.H., State Health Commissioner, Virginia Department of Health, presented an annual review of the Certificate of Public Need Program. Lastly, William L. Lukhard, President of Virginia Health Information (VHI), presented a status report on VHI's strategic plan for health care cost and quality data initiatives.

At the December 1st meeting, staff presented a "decision matrix" that summarized all of the issues addressed by the Joint Commission during 1999. Members made decisions on what actions to take in response to a number of the issues contained in the "decision matrix," and requested legislation to be drafted for the 2000 Session of the General Assembly. Several issues were held over until the December 7th meeting.

During the December 7th meeting, the Joint Commission completed its review of the "decision matrix," and requested additional legislation to be drafted for the 2000 Session of the General Assembly.

At the January 6, 2000 meeting, Claude A. Allen, Secretary of Health and Human Resources, and Dennis G. Smith, Director, Department of Medical Assistance Services, presented a status report on the Children's Medical Security Insurance Plan. Staff responded to unresolved issues from the December meetings. Lastly, staff reviewed the public comments received on the Joint Commission's draft legislative proposals. The Commission made final decisions on proposed legislation and adopted its package of legislative proposals and budgetary recommendations to be introduced during the 2000 Session.