Notice is hereby given in accordance with § 2.2-4007.01 of the Code of Virginia that the State Board of Health intends to consider promulgating 12VAC5-402, Certification of Community Health Workers. The purpose of the proposed action is to promulgate a new regulation to establish the requirements for use of the title "certified community health worker," including training and education requirements, as required by Chapter 363 of the 2020 Acts of Assembly. Proposed amendments include (i) definitions for "community health workers" and "certified community health workers" as well as other relevant terminology, (ii) minimum training and education requirements to be considered a certified community health worker based on the core competences for community health worker certification used by national organizations and community based organizations in Virginia, and (iii) minimum standards required of a board-approved entity responsible for confirming certified community health workers and approving the training and education meeting community health worker certification requirements.

The agency does not intend to hold a public hearing following the publication of the proposed stage in the Virginia Register.

Statutory Authority: §§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-15.1 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Comment Deadline: March 31, 2021.

Agency Contact: Brenden Rivenbark, Senior Policy Analyst, Department of Health, 109 Governor Street, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 864-7190, or email brenden.rivenbark@vdh.virginia.gov.