Requiring certification of nursing home Medical Directors

HB 3160 requires medical directors at West Virginia nursing homes to hold certification from the American Board of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine or an equivalent organization approved by the state health department. Existing medical directors have until January 1, 2030, to obtain certification, and nursing homes must report their directors' certification status to the health department by June 30, 2026. Nursing homes operating as part of an acute care hospital are exempt from the certification requirement but must designate a physician board-certified in a relevant specialty (e.g., rehabilitation or pulmonology) and approved by hospital leadership.