Relating to establishing minimum requirements for discharge of women in later stages of pregnancy from hospitals.

HB 5523 requires hospitals, clinics, and emergency departments in West Virginia to provide a physician or certified nurse midwife examination before discharging any woman in the later stages of pregnancy. It mandates that facilities provide written and verbal discharge instructions covering key topics like labor signs, warning symptoms, activity guidance, follow-up care, and emergency contacts, all in accessible language. The instructions must be reviewed with the patient or their representative, and the facility must document that they were provided. This bill directly affects pregnant patients in late-stage pregnancy and healthcare facilities across the state, aiming to improve safety through standardized discharge protocols.