AARP Virginia's 2027 Legislative Priorities

Make medicine more affordable for Virginians

More than half of Virginia voters take prescription medication on a regular basis. The cost of these drugs continues to rise, forcing Virginians to make impossible choices between the medicine they need and paying their rent or buying groceries. Meanwhile, the big drug manufacturers and middlemen are raking in record profits. It is long past time that Virginia addresses this issue. The General Assembly should:

• Pass the Affordable Medicine Act once again, and the governor should sign it. This historic legislation would deliver Medicare’s negotiated drug prices to all Virginians in state-regulated health plans, create a panel to advise the legislature on additional policies, and hold middlemen accountable for their role in driving up costs. The bill passed the legislature with overwhelming bipartisan support in 2026.

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Ensure high-quality care is delivered in nursing homes

Around 30,000 Virginians reside in nursing homes. Many facilities, particularly for-profit providers, fail to provide high-quality care. Based on the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rating system for nursing home staffing, Virginia ranks 46th in the country. The General Assembly should:

• Finally enact minimum staffing standards. Studies consistently show that inadequate staffing levels in nursing homes lead to an increase in falls and pressure sores, the spread of infection, dehydration, costly and preventable hospital admissions, overuse of antipsychotic medications, and resident deaths.
• Ensure that public dollars are not being directed to owner profits at the expense of resident care.
• Empower the Office of Licensure and Certification (OLC) to hold bad actors accountable and ensure that complaints are responded to in a timely manner.
• Support workforce development efforts that enable facilities to hire adequate staff.

Make aging with dignity in Virginia safer and more affordable

Virginia should be a place where people feel safe, secure, and where low-income residents get the support they need. Virginians should be able to choose how to live as they age. The General Assembly should:

• Protect critical programs like Medicaid and SNAP to ensure that vulnerable Virginians are able to access food and health care.
• Protect Virginians from fraud and scams, and focus on the many scams that use emerging technologies like AI and cryptocurrency to trick victims.
• Increase affordable housing options for all Virginians.