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VBCF Legislative Priorities for 2026
SB2: Establishing a paid family and medical leave program in Virginia
Patron: Senator Boysko (SD-38)
Treatment for breast cancer is often a months-long process, requiring surgery, hospitalization, intense chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and multiple medical appointments - all requiring time off from work. Yet today, roughly 3.5 million working Virginians - 73% of the workforce - lack access to paid family and medical leave. SB2 would ensure that workers can take up to 12 weeks of paid time off from work to address serious health conditions or care for their loved ones. Simply put, paid medical leave in VA would allow breast cancer patients to focus on their cancer treatment and recovery without facing the added burden of financial instability.
TAKE ACTION:
Share your story with us. We'd like to know about your experience with having access to paid leave, or not, during your breast cancer journey. Our goal is to use these stories to show Virginia legislators the impact on real people, with real experiences at the center of the conversation to pass and implement PFML in Virginia. Please use this form to provide whatever details you are comfortable with sharing. And stay tuned for opportunities to provide written or in-person testimony on this bill.
HB625/SB161 Transparency to help patients manage out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs.
Patrons: Delegate Henson (HD-19) and Senator Perry (SD-31)
Patients who require specialty tier medications for complex or chronic conditions are often required to pay a co-insurance that could be thousands of dollars for a single month’s supply of medication. High-cost specialty medications include many newer, targeted breast cancer therapies, immunotherapy, and those used to treat Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. HB625/SB161 (identical bills) would require that health insurance carriers give patients an option to select a capped, flat-dollar co-pay-only health insurance plan, helping make costs stable and predictable. This plan choice would ensure that co-pays for any covered medication within that plan would not exceed $100 per prescription per month in Silver/Gold/Platinum plans or $150 per prescription per month in Bronze plans.
TAKE ACTION:
HB625 may be heard in the House Labor and Commerce Committee THIS WEEK! If your State Delegate is on the Labor & Commerce Committee (see table below), please email them NOW to ask for their support. If you do not know who your legislators are go to: Who's My Legislator?
Sample Email Text:
Dear Delegate x:
As a volunteer advocate with the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation, and your constituent, I’m asking you to support HB 625 and give patients the option to choose a health insurance plan with transparent and predictable out-of-pocket costs for life-saving treatment.
Under many health insurance plans, prescription drugs for complex and chronic illnesses require patients to pay co-insurance, which is a percentage of the total cost of their drug. Unpredictable and unaffordable out-of-pocket costs can force patients to skip doses of life-saving medications or stop taking their prescriptions altogether.
As a member of the breast cancer community, I know that high-cost specialty medications include many newer, targeted breast cancer therapies, immunotherapy, and those used to treat Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. [INSERT YOUR EXPERIENCE IF APPLICABLE]
Having the option to choose a health insurance plan with flat-dollar copays will allow patients to manage both their health and their finances. I urge you to vote for HB 625.
House Labor and Commerce Members:
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