Emily Schabacker

County officials said Tuesday that the hospital would not reopen. But Foresight Health, which bought the property two years ago, insists that “nothing is off the table.”

A bill that would create a board for prescription drug affordability passed 10-5 across party lines in the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee on Monday evening.

Advocates heralded the governor's proposed investment in Medicaid waivers, which would address the priority one waitlist of 3,440 people. But another 14,000-plus Virginians languish on other lists, and service providers say they're already struggling to meet demand.

The project is part of a larger initiative to invest $1 billion to expand and modernize infrastructure throughout the health system.

Supporters of the proposal say it could help rein in high drug costs. Skeptics say it targets the wrong industry player.

The president and CEO of Lynchburg-based Centra Health is stepping down from her position, according to a Thursday announcement. An interim CEO has been appointed, effective immediately.

Dr. Dalton Renick had worked for Carilion Clinic in Roanoke and for New Beginnings Pediatrics in Blacksburg, according to those two organizations.

The proposed site for the new Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine building is within walking distance of the existing campus.

A top executive with Foresight Health confirmed that its plans to reopen the facility will not go forward.

The story was originally published in Cardinal News with support from our 2024 National Fellowship and the Fund for Reporting on Child and Family Well-Being.