The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is submitting this report in response to the legislative mandate in subsection B of Code of Virginia § 32.1-162.15:7, which requires VDH to annually submit to the Governor and General Assembly information regarding hospital compliance with the requirements of Article 8 (§ 32.1-162.15:2 et seq.) of Chapter 5 of Title 32.1 of the Code of Virginia. This includes data regarding submission to VDH of proposed hospital plans for the transfer and treatment of adult and pediatric sexual assault survivors and hospital inspections related to compliance with approved plans. This report is due by December 1 of each year.

From July 1, 2023 to present:

1. Fifty-four hospitals submitted and received approval for adult sexual assault survivor (SAS) transfer plans.

a. An additional nine hospitals submitted SAS transfer plans that were denied VDH’s approval, and have not re-submitted their plans, with appropriate revisions, for VDH’s review.

b. One hospital submitted and received approval for a SAS transfer plan for its freestanding emergency department but has not resubmitted an acceptable SAS transfer plan for the entirety of the hospital following VDH’s denied approval.

2. Forty-nine hospitals submitted and received approval for pediatric sexual assault survivor (PSAS) transfer plans.

a. An additional seven hospitals submitted PSAS transfer plans that were denied VDH’s approval, and have not re-submitted their plans, with appropriate revisions, for VDH’s review.

b. One hospital submitted and received approval for a PSAS transfer plan for its freestanding emergency department but has not resubmitted an acceptable PSAS transfer plan for the entirety of the hospital following VDH’s denied approval.

3. Forty-five hospitals submitted and received approval for SAS treatment plans.

4. Thirty-nine hospitals submitted and received approval for PSAS treatment plans.

a. One hospital submitted and received approval for a PSAS treatment plan for its freestanding emergency department but did not submit a plan for the entirety of the hospital.

5. Seventy-seven hospitals were noncompliant with the plan submission requirements in that they failed to submit any plan for VDH’s review and approval.

6. Zero hospitals were inspected for compliance with the requirements of Article 8 (§ 32.1-162.15:2 et seq.) of Chapter 5 of Title 32.1 of the Code of Virginia and their approved plan.
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(*1) Pursuant to the provisions of the second enactment clause of Chapter 725 of the 2020 Acts of Assembly, the requirement for hospitals to have an approved plan to either treat or transfer SASs and PSASs had a delayed effective date of July 1, 2023.