Senate Bill 1039, 2025 (SB l 039) directs the Department of Corrections (DOC) and the State Board of Local and Regional Jails (BLRJ) to report to the Joint Commission on Health Care (JCHC) by October 1, 2025, on:

1. The status of policies for accommodating inmate participation in telehealth appointments;

2. Opportunities to expand telehealth programs in correctional facilities; and

3. Recommend strategies to reduce gaps or barriers to telehealth delivery.

In accordance with § 53.1-5 Code of Virginia (CoV), BLRJ is required to develop and implement policies for telehealth participation in local and regional jails. The BLRJ fulfills this duty by promulgating administrative regulations. To inform the regulatory development, the BLRJ issued a statewide survey to assess current practices, challenges, and opportunities related to telehealth use in local and regional jail settings.

Key findings include:

• Telehealth is widely used, especially for mental health care, with most facilities reporting designated private spaces and adherence to privacy and security standards.

• Written policies or protocols are still in development in many facilities.

• Barriers such as limited staffing, infrastructure constraints, and inmate refusals are prevalent.

• Several facilities identified practical, low-cost approaches to expanding telehealth, such as using existing examination rooms.

• Respondents consistently noted that telehealth should be viewed as a supplement, not a replacement, for in-person care, particularly for complex or primary care needs.

The data collected will assist the BLRJ in drafting a regulation that strikes a balance between consistency, flexibility, and clinical standards in the use of telehealth across the Commonwealth's local and regional jails.