SB164Introduced in the Senate
Health insurance; ethics and fairness in carrier business practices, downcoded claims.
Introduced by Jeremy McPike, District 29
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
Health insurance; ethics and fairness in carrier business practices; downcoded claims. Prohibits a carrier, intermediary, administrator, or representative of a carrier from downcoding a claim unless the decision to downcode is determined by a person or electronic system that reflects correct coding standards and considers all relevant patient data from the billing provider in making the determination. The bill requires a carrier, intermediary, administrator, or representative that downcodes a claim to provide certain notice to the provider. The bill requires that all downcoding dispute decisions are reviewed and adjudicated by a natural person. This bill is identical to HB 484.
Where it stands
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0881)
April 13, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House of Delegates votes
3 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
4 recorded votes · each counted separately
SenateStage: House substitute with amendments agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) · March 6, 2026
40
Yes
0
No
0
Absent or Not Voting
40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
See how each senator voted
| Senator | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth Bennett-Parker | 5 | Yes |
| Michael Jones | 77 | Yes |
| Timmy French | 1 | Yes |
| Mark Obenshain | 2 | Yes |
| Chris Head | 3 | Yes |
| David Suetterlein | 4 | Yes |
| Travis Hackworth | 5 | Yes |
| Todd Pillion | 6 | Yes |
| William Stanley | 7 | Yes |
| Mark Peake | 8 | Yes |
Bill history
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103299D
Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
Senate committee offered
Senate committee offered
Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (15-Y 0-N)
Committee substitute printed 26106195D-S1
Rules suspended
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
Passed by for the day
Read second time
Commerce and Labor Substitute agreed to
Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
Read third time and passed Senate
Placed on Calendar
Read first time
Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #1
Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (9-Y 0-N)
Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (21-Y 0-N)
Committee substitute printed 26108190D-H1
Read second time
Moved from Uncontested Calendar to Regular Calendar
Passed by for the day
Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB164)
Read third time
committee substitute rejected
Passed by temporarily
Floor offered Delegate Shin Amendments
Reconsideration of
Labor and Commerce Substituteagreed to by House
Delegate Shin Floor amendments agreed to
Engrossed by House - committee substitute as amended
Passed House with substitute with amendments (97-Y 1-N 0-A)
House substitute with amendments agreed to by Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
Enrolled
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB164ER)
Signed by Speaker
Signed by President
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB164)
Approved by Governor-Chapter 881 (effective 7/1/2026)
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0881)
Verify the information
- Official page on the Virginia Legislature website
- House Amendments (amendment)
- Delegate Shin Amendments (amendment)
- Fiscal Note/Analysis (supplement)
- Fiscal Note/Analysis (supplement)
- Introduced (text)
- Comm Sub (text)
- Comm Sub (text)
- Comm Sub (text)
- Comm Sub (text)
- Comm Sub (text)
- Enrolled (text)
- Chaptered (text)
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