CODE OF VIRGINIA

SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA HEALTH AUTHORITY ESTABLISHED (§ 15.2-5368)

A. There is hereby established a Health Authority for the LENOWISCO and
Cumberland Plateau Planning District Commissions, the Counties of Smyth and
Washington, and the City of Bristol.

B. The General Assembly recognizes that rural communities such as those served
by the Authority confront unique challenges in the effort to improve health care
outcomes and access to quality health care. It is important to facilitate the
provision of quality, cost-efficient medical care to rural patients. The
provision of care by local providers is important to enhancing, fostering, and
creating opportunities that advance health status and provide health-related
economic benefits. The Authority shall establish regional health goals directed
at improving access to care, advancing health status, targeting regional health
issues, promoting technological advancement, ensuring accountability of the cost
of care, enhancing academic engagement in regional health, strengthening the
workforce for health-related careers, and improving health entity collaboration
and regional integration where appropriate.

C. Technological and improved scientific methods have contributed to the
improvement of health care in the Commonwealth. The cost of improved technology
and improved scientific methods for the provision of hospital care, particularly
in rural communities, contributes substantially to the increasing cost of
hospital care. Cost increases make it increasingly difficult for hospitals in
rural areas of the Commonwealth, including those areas served by the Authority,
to offer care. Cooperative agreements among hospitals and between hospitals and
others for the provision of health care services may foster improvements in the
quality of health care, moderate increases in cost, improve access to needed
services in rural areas of the Commonwealth, and enhance the likelihood that
smaller hospitals in the Commonwealth will remain open in beneficial service to
their communities.

HISTORY: 2007, c. 676; 2009, c. 464; 2014, c. 236; 2015, c. 741.