Virginia Birth Injury Fund

04/07/2026

Families have asked how approvals will be handled during the Nurse-Led Determinations Pilot and whether some requests may be automatically approved.

This pilot relies on professional nursing judgment, and there will be some subjectivity as we learn which requests should be considered routine and which require more clinical discretion. The goal is to identify patterns that help us determine what can be handled more efficiently in the future.

We also encourage families to share suggestions about items that could reasonably be automatically approved, especially when little clinical discretion is needed.

The pilot is designed to reduce unnecessary administrative steps when outcomes are predictable. For example, when an item is clearly needed or when insurance coverage is already well understood, additional paperwork may not add value.

Similarly, straightforward needs—such as accessibility modifications connected to clear functional limitations—should not require unnecessary physician documentation.

Throughout the pilot, we will track trends and feedback. At the end of the pilot, the goal is to use what we learn to develop a formal policy that is clearer, more efficient, and responsive to families’ needs.

We appreciate your participation and feedback as we work to improve the process.

03/24/2026

An Important Update About 1099s and Program Payments!

In case you missed the update provided on the Bridge call or in the March Newsletter, we wanted to let you know about some important tax information from Interim Director Alan Abramowitz...

Over the past month, families raised questions about why the Program has historically issued IRS Form 1099 for certain payments. We reviewed the federal tax law, consulted outside tax counsel, and examined how similar programs handle this issue. Based on that review, we are making a change.

Going forward, the Program will not issue 1099 forms to parents or family members who are caring for their own disabled child in the home. Under federal law, specifically Internal Revenue Code §131 and IRS Notice 2014-7, payments made to a parent providing care in the home are generally treated as “difficulty of care” payments and are excluded from federal income tax. In simple terms, these payments are not treated as taxable income from the Program’s reporting perspective unless someone is operating a caregiving business in the ordinary course of that business.

We will also not issue 1099 forms for the monthly support payment currently referred to as the “wage benefit.” That name is misleading, and we will be renaming it. It is not a wage and not payment for employment; it is a statutory support benefit tied to eligibility under the Birth Injury Act. Because it is a program support benefit and not compensation for services, it will not be reported on a 1099.

If you receive a 1099 this year, please contact the Program and we will correct it. For tax years 2023 and 2024, we will be issuing corrected 1099 forms and filing those corrections with the IRS. You will receive a corrected form along with a letter explaining the change. If you previously reported those amounts as income, you should provide the corrected form to your tax preparer and ask whether you should amend your return.

This reporting practice dates back many years. When it was brought to our attention, we reviewed the law, sought outside counsel, and took corrective action. As always, each family’s tax situation is unique, and you should consult with your tax professional regarding your specific circumstances. Our goal is straightforward: to be legally accurate and transparent to families. Every family’s tax situation is different. The program cannot give individual tax advice. It is each caregiver’s responsibility to determine whether the federal exclusion applies to their specific situation. If you have additional questions, you can email [email protected].

03/13/2026

This training marks the beginning of our effort to embed trauma-informed care into our culture, policies, and daily interactions. Thank you to our expert trainer, John Richardson-Lauve, for leading this important session.

There is a reason this is our first public post about staff training: trauma-informed care is foundational to where we are headed as an organization.

As we continue moving toward a more family-centered approach, it is essential that we understand not only what families need, but also the experiences, stress, and loss many carry with them.

Today’s training reinforced that trauma-informed care is not a side topic. It shapes how we communicate, design processes, make decisions, and build trust with the families we serve.

This is one of the most important areas of growth for our Program, and it will continue to guide how we strengthen services for families moving forward.

In this training session, John Richardson-Lauve introduces the foundational concepts of Trauma-Informed Care and why understanding trauma is essential for pr...

02/13/2026

Welcome to the official page of the Virginia Birth Injury Fund, created so the Program can share important updates with families and stakeholders. Here you will find program announcements, policy and decision updates, training opportunities, and information that may affect participating families. This page is intended for information sharing only, so that all families receive the same written updates at the same time. It is not a forum for public comments or postings, but a place to access reliable, timely information directly from the Program. This information is also posted on the Program’s official website.