State Sen. Barbara A. Favola has put forward a bill aimed at extending the use of remote pharmacist supervision within opioid treatment facilities. If enacted, the legislation would allow for real-time audiovisual patient verification and counseling under qualifying circumstances, as outlined by the Virginia State Senate.
The measure, designated as SB421 and introduced on Jan. 14, 2026 during the session, carries the description: “Pharmacist; remote verification and counseling in opioid treatment programs.”
Outlined below is an analysis using the official bill language and may include added clarification for transparency.
Under the legislation, pharmacists could conduct remote verification and counseling for patients receiving methadone or other opioid use disorder medications at federally certified facilities using live, two-way audiovisual platforms. Pharmacy technicians or authorized staff could provide medication as long as a pharmacist with a Virginia license is available by video, supervises visually, performs required judgment tasks, and all federal regulations are followed. The bill requires the Board of Pharmacy to establish standards for technology, staff training, record-keeping, privacy, safety protocols and oversight roles while specifying that in-person pharmacist supervision remains standard unless remote procedures under the bill are met.
Sen. Barbara A. Favola (Democrat-40th District) is the sole sponsor of the bill.
Favola has presented an additional 18 pieces of legislation so far this session.
She received her BS from Saint Joseph College in 1977.
Favola, representing the 40th Senate district as a Democrat, joined the Virginia Senate in 2024 and succeeded Todd Pillion.
The process for legislation in Virginia begins with introducing a bill in the House of Delegates or Senate, followed by referral to committees for consideration and potential amendments. If advanced by committee, the bill proceeds to a full chamber vote in both houses. Passage in both sends the legislation to the governor, who may approve, veto or not act, resulting in it becoming law. The Virginia General Assembly meets for its regular session each year starting the second Monday in January. Lawmakers propose hundreds of bills each year, with only a portion ultimately becoming law.
| Patron(s) | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbara A. Favola | SB421 | 01/14/2026 | Pharmacist; remote verification and counseling in opioid treatment programs. |
| Barbara A. Favola and Christie New Craig | SB33 | 01/14/2026 | Programs for at-risk students; permissible uses of funding. |
| Barbara A. Favola and Kannan Srinivasan | SB34 | 01/14/2026 | Incapacitated persons; finding of lack of capacity to understand act of voting. |
| Barbara A. Favola and Russet Perry | SB37 | 01/14/2026 | Sexual abuse during infancy or incapacity; accrual. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB38 | 01/14/2026 | Firearms; transfers to another person from a prohibited person. |
| Barbara A. Favola, Kannan Srinivasan, and Angelia Williams Graves | SB58 | 01/14/2026 | Elections; deadline for receipt of absentee ballots and certain other information, etc. |
| Barbara A. Favola, David R. Suetterlein, Holly M. Seibold, and Irene Shin | SB64 | 01/14/2026 | Juveniles; commitment to DJJ, petition to extend duration of indeterminate commitment. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB70 | 01/14/2026 | Delinquency petition; referral to court service unit. |
| Barbara A. Favola, Kannan Srinivasan, and Saddam Azlan Salim | SB90 | 01/14/2026 | Equity in public school funding and staffing; At-Risk Program established, Standards of Quality. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB125 | 01/14/2026 | Children’s Ombudsman, Office of the; powers and duties, report. |
| Barbara A. Favola and Mark D. Obenshain | SB171 | 01/14/2026 | Minor elementary or secondary school students admitted to inpatient treatment; discl. of discharge. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB177 | 01/14/2026 | Va. Consumer Protection Act; prohibited practices, consumer reproductive/sexual health information. |
| Barbara A. Favola, Aaron R. Rouse, Adam P. Ebbin, Angelia Williams Graves, Danica A. Roem, David W. Marsden, Jennifer B. Boysko, Jennifer D. Carroll Foy, Kannan Srinivasan, L. Louise Lucas, Lamont Bagby, Lashrecse D. Aird, Mamie E. Locke, Michael J. Jones, R. Creigh Deeds, Russet Perry, Saddam Azlan Salim, Schuyler T. VanValkenburg, Scott A. Surovell, and Stella G. Pekarsky | SB199 | 01/14/2026 | Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB247 | 01/14/2026 | Nursing homes; application to Commissioner of Health for change of operator license, civil penalty. |
| Barbara A. Favola and Kannan Srinivasan | SB257 | 01/14/2026 | Health insurance; requirements for certain opioid antagonists. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB269 | 01/14/2026 | Mental health service providers; definitions, use of artificial intelligence system civil penalty. |
| Barbara A. Favola and Alfonso H. Lopez | SB296 | 01/14/2026 | County manager plan of government; affordable dwelling unit ordinance. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB332 | 01/14/2026 | Medical marijuana; administration to terminally ill patients. |
| Barbara A. Favola | SB418 | 01/14/2026 | Therapeutic interchange; authorizes pharmacists to perform, adaptation of prescriptions. |
