Regulatory Actions

State Regulation

State agencies and their policymaking boards develop regulations implementing state law. Many state agencies administer laws that affect hospitals and health systems. Information on current regulatory action is available on many of those agencies’ websites, accessible through the State Agency Web Site List.

The Virginia Regulatory Townhall is a comprehensive source of information about regulations in Virginia. The Town Hall allows you to find regulations and track proposed changes, as well as to submit online comments about regulatory changes. It also lists all regulatory boards’ meetings.

Agencies must publish all regulatory actions, from notice of their intent to develop a regulation through the issuance of final regulations, including notices of opportunity for public comment on regulations, in the Virginia Register of Regulations.

Final regulations are published and maintained in the Virginia Administrative Code. All final state regulations are searchable by key word or subject area.

All regulations must be based on authority granted under state statute as enacted by the General Assembly. Authorizing statutes are found in the Code of Virginia, available in a searchable database.

Federal Regulation

Federal agencies follow similar processes for development of federal regulations. The Federal Register is the official daily publication for rules, proposed rules and notices of federal agencies and organizations, as well as executive orders and other presidential documents. Final regulations are published and maintained in the Code of Federal Regulations. Statutory authority for all federal regulations is found in the United States Code.

Links to sources for all of these federal materials and more may be found on the Government Printing Office website.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ regulations are summarized on its Regulations website.