Richmond, Va. (January 22, 2026) — New legislation introduced in Virginia aims to protect patients from delays in receiving lab and pathology results. It is sponsored by Delegate Destiny Bolling (D-Henrico) and Senator Kannan Srinivasan (D-Loudoun).
“Waiting for test results can mean the difference between treatable and advanced disease,” said Theresa S. Emory, MD, FCAP, a practicing Virginia pathologist and a board member of the Virginia Society for Pathology (VSP). “I’ve seen delays caused by insurer restrictions turn a treatable disease into a dangerous one. This bill allows doctors to use the in-network lab or pathology provider that best serves their patient, without unnecessary hurdles.”
Currently, some insurers send all tests to a single national laboratory, even when multiple local in-network providers are available. These policies can delay results, disrupt continuity of care, and put patients at risk of worse health outcomes
The proposed legislation, House Bill 424 and Senate Bill 745, ensures health carriers cannot restrict in-network providers from referring specimens or patients to any qualified laboratory or pathology service. Consistent with a recent policy adopted by the American Medical Association (AMA), the bill protects patient choice and timely access to critical test results without expanding benefits, altering reimbursement, or increasing costs. It simply allows physicians to choose the in-network provider that best supports their patient’s care.
VSP is leading the effort to support the bill, which aims to remove unnecessary insurer restrictions and ensure timely patient care.
“This bill will allow Virginia patients access to laboratories and pathologist expertise within their own communities and hospitals, supporting timely, high-quality results and holistic, patient-centered care,” said VSP President Emerald O’Sullivan-Mejia, MD, FCAP.
The College of American Pathologists (CAP) also backs the legislation as a vital step to address insurance policies that disrupt coordinated care.
“The CAP has repeatedly highlighted how restrictive insurer policies can slow diagnoses and harm patients,” said CAP President Qihui “Jim” Zhai, MD, FCAP. “Local hospitals, community practices, and academic centers provide specialized expertise that patients rely on. When insurers limit referrals, that expertise becomes inaccessible when it’s needed most.”
If passed, it would strengthen Virginia’s commitment to timely, patient‑centered care.
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About the Virginia Society for Pathology
The Virginia Society for Pathology promotes excellence in pathology through advocacy and education, supporting pathologists in Virginia and surrounding areas with programs focused on advances in laboratory medicine and high-quality patient care.
About the College of American Pathologists
As the world’s largest organization of board-certified pathologists and leading provider of laboratory accreditation and proficiency testing programs, the College of American Pathologists (CAP) serves patients, pathologists, and the public by fostering and advocating excellence in the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine worldwide. For more information, visit the CAP Newsroom, CAP.org and yourpathologist.org to watch pathologists at work and see the stories of the patients who trust them with their care.