Welcome to The Pulse, a weekly roundup of health-focused news. Each Thursday, we bring you updates on health policy, community surveys, new clinical studies, programs and services in Southwest and Southside Virginia.
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Carilion rehabilitation hospital set to expand in new space
Carilion Clinic partnered with a Pennsylvania-based Select Medical Corporation to open a rehabilitation hospital in Roanoke.
Carilion announced plans for the new free-standing rehabilitation hospital in 2024 shortly after submitting a letter of intent to the state’s Certificate of Public Need Division. In August 2025, the division approved the project.
[Disclosure: Carilion is one of our donors, but donors have no say in news decisions; see our policy.]
Carilion’s existing rehab facility is housed at Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital and supports 34 medical rehabilitation beds. The new hospital, located in the 1900 block of Ninth Street Southeast, will add resources for 16 more beds and will include a dedicated therapy gym, according to the division’s report.
Future plans for the current rehabilitation space at the community hospital are still being finalized, according to Hannah Curtis, a spokesperson for the health system.
Select Medical will serve as the majority owner and manager of the Carilion Rehabilitation Hospital.
The project carries a $112 million price tag. The new construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2026, with the hospital expected to open in spring or summer 2028, according to a Select Medical press release.
New laws aim to strengthen addiction recovery services
Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed bipartisan legislation last week aimed at expanding addiction recovery services in Virginia by creating clearer pathways for employing peer recovery specialists and reducing barriers to medication treatment for opioid use disorder.
SB 608 directs the Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Department of Corrections to develop hiring guidelines for peer recovery specialists who have previous criminal convictions.
The legislation requires the agencies to clarify employment requirements and ensure that policies are no more restrictive than existing state law. The bill originated as a recommendation from the Joint Commission on Health Care.
Peer recovery specialists are professionals who themselves have been in recovery from substance use or mental health disorders. They receive training to support, mentor and guide others navigating their own recovery process.
Research shows that making peers part of the recovery process reduces relapse rates, decreases hospitalizations, increases treatment retention and lowers overall healthcare costs, according to a study published in the National Library of Medicine.
SB 641 increases access to office-based buprenorphine treatment, which helps ease opiate withdrawal symptoms and supports recovery. The legislation removes counseling as a mandatory condition of treatment and allows patients to decline counseling while they receive medication.
Sen. Todd Pillion, R-Washington County, led both bills, which passed unanimously in the House and Senate.
“Substance use disorder has touched virtually every community in Virginia — and in this region, the impact has been particularly deep and particularly painful,” Spanberger said in a press release. “I’m proud to join Senator Pillion, advocates, and families who have faced these challenges to sign two important bills today — one that puts peer recovery specialists to work helping others find their way, and one that makes sure patients can get the medication-assisted treatment they need without unnecessary obstacles in their path.”
Virginia launches maternal mental health awareness campaign
State health leaders launched a new public awareness campaign this month designed to help Virginians recognize the signs of perinatal and postpartum depression and better understand maternal mental health.
The General Assembly allocated $553,200 in 2025 to launch what is now called Beyond the Blues, an online resource hub meant to help parents, families, healthcare providers and communities recognize that maternal mental health struggles are common and treatable, and often show up in unexpected ways.
Common symptoms include physical aches and pains as well as feelings of anxiety, numbness, rage, fear or sadness, according to a press release from Virginia Department of Health. These experiences can occur before and during pregnancy, after birth or long after a baby arrives. About 75% of women who experience maternal mental health issues do not get the help they need, according to the release.
The campaign emphasizes that support extends beyond the healthcare system and highlights the role of partners, relatives, friends, faith leaders, neighbors and local community organizations.
“Support often begins with the people closest to a parent,” Dr. Cameron Webb, the state health commissioner, said in the press release. “You don’t have to be an expert to help. If you notice something, you can ask, listen without judgment, and help them take that next step.”
