RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued his 52nd executive order on Monday, aimed at strengthening oversight of nursing homes across the state.
The announcement comes after a number of CBS 6 investigative reports over the past year detailing quality issues at facilities in Central Virginia and the state's shortfalls in holding them accountable.
The order, titled "Strengthening Oversight of Virginia's Nursing Homes," comes in response to significant problems with the state's inspection system and growing concerns about resident care.
The Virginia Department of Health's Office of Licensure and Certification (OLC), which is responsible for inspecting the state's nearly 300 nursing homes and investigating consumer complaints, has been struggling with a 42% vacancy rate of inspectors, a significant backlog of work, and a skyrocketing increase in consumer complaints. An internal report produced in March 2025 detailed an office that was "not running properly" and medical facility inspectors that were overworked, underpaid, and lacking in training.
These issues have caused Virginia to fall behind almost every other state in the country when it comes to timely inspections of nursing facilities. According to federal data, 68% of Virginia nursing homes are overdue for routine inspection while the national average is 17%.
Youngkin's executive order directs the OLC to fill all of its vacancies by the end of the year through innovative recruitment strategies, establish a new complaint coordinator position to streamline the intake process and response, modernize its operations, and increase transparency with a new public portal to display facility inspection results, disciplinary actions, and performance metrics.
Most notably, the order will create a Nursing Home Oversight and Accountability Advisory Board. The group will consist of members appointed by the health secretary and make policy recommendations aimed at protecting the well-being of residents through an annual report to the governor.
“Virginia’s seniors and families deserve peace of mind knowing their loved ones are receiving the highest quality care,” Governor Youngkin said in a statement. “This Executive Order reinforces our commitment to safety, transparency, and excellence in long-term care. I commend the OLC team for embracing innovation and working tirelessly to support caregivers and protect residents.”
Serious nursing home concerns have made headlines in recent months, including issues at Colonial Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing Home, which was at the center of criminal investigations. Prosecutors there have requested a special grand jury to investigate alleged "complex crimes" including what they called abuse and neglect and possible Medicaid fraud.
"Right now, too many of our most vulnerable Virginians are getting substandard care and the nursing homes are getting away with it. I thank Governor Youngkin for this strong action today to bring needed oversight, accountability, and enforcement," said Republican Delegate Mike Cherry, who represents the district that includes the Colonial Heights facility.
Earlier this year, Governor Youngkin signed two bills into law that will increase licensing fees in an effort to fund more inspector positions and expand OLC's enforcement options for facilities cited with repeated lower-level care and safety violations.
Virginia was also set to implement a nursing facility staffing mandate on July 1, 2025 in response to legislation that passed in 2023; however state implementation and enforcement have been delayed as regulations have still not been fully finalized.
Last month, VDH Commissioner Dr. Karen Shelton suggested to lawmakers that more measures to improve nursing home oversight may be necessary including legislation would give the agency authority to collect more ownership information from entities seeking to acquire or establish licensed facilities in the commonwealth.
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