A. Notwithstanding the provisions of Chapter 1 (§ 32.1-1 et seq.), there shall be a State Board of Medical Assistance Services hereinafter referred to as the Board. The Board shall consist of eleven residents of the Commonwealth to be appointed by the Governor as follows: five of whom shall be health care providers and six of whom shall not; of these six, at least two shall be individuals with significant professional experience in the detection, investigation, or prosecution of health care fraud. Any vacancy on the Board, other than by expiration of term, shall be filled by the Governor for the unexpired portion of the term. No person shall be eligible to serve on the Board for more than two full consecutive terms. Appointments shall be made for terms of four years each, except that appointments to fill vacancies shall be made for the unexpired terms. The Board shall meet at such times and places as it shall determine. It shall elect from its members a chairman who shall perform the usual duties of such office. The Board shall submit biennially a written report to the Governor and the General Assembly.
B. The Director shall be the executive officer of the Board but shall not be a member thereof.
C. The Director shall be vested with all the authority of the Board when it is not in session, subject to such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Board.