Healthcare

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 29, 2026

HB 4951: Requiring MDs and DOs to complete continuing education

This bill requires physicians and osteopathic doctors in West Virginia to complete continuing education credits specifically in nutrition as part of their biennial license renewal process. The law mandates that medical professionals earn a minimum of fifty hours of continuing medical education every two years, with osteopathic physicians required to complete thirty-two hours including nutrition training, and these credits must be approved by relevant medical boards. The bill amends existing state code sections to make nutrition education a mandatory component of the continuing education requirement for license renewal.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates nutrition education for physicians, aiming to improve patient health outcomes through better-informed medical professionals.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 29, 2026

HB 4610: Safeguard the Right-To-Try Cutting-Edge Medicine Act

HB 4610 allows terminally ill patients in West Virginia to access experimental, individually tailored medical treatments (like gene therapies) when standard FDA-approved options have been exhausted. It defines "eligible patients" as those with life-threatening illnesses who have consulted a physician, considered all approved treatments, and provided written consent detailing treatment risks and alternatives. Key provisions require healthcare providers to document patient eligibility, obtain specific informed consent covering potential outcomes, and prohibit debt collection from estates if a patient dies during treatment. The bill also protects healthcare providers from sanctions for offering these treatments and clarifies that it does not affect health insurers' obligations to cover clinical trial participation.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands patient access to experimental treatments for terminally ill patients when standard options fail, aligning with 'improves patient access' and 'protects patient rights' indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 26, 2026

HB 5277: Supplemental Appropriation to the Department of Health Facilities-Welch Community Hospital, William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital, and Mildred Mitchell-Bateman Hospital from the Unappropriated Surplus Balance

HB 5277 is a funding bill that allocates $1 million to Welch Community Hospital, $3.4 million to William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital, and $4.3 million to Mildred Mitchell-Bateman Hospital from West Virginia's unappropriated surplus balance. These funds are designated specifically for capital improvements, repairs, and equipment at each hospital during fiscal year 2026. The bill supplements existing appropriations by adding these new funding lines to the hospitals' respective budgets. It directly affects the three named hospitals by providing additional resources for facility maintenance and infrastructure. The bill does not create new policies or programs but reallocates existing surplus funds for capital purposes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $8.7M from unappropriated surplus for hospital capital improvements, directly increasing public service funding without tax changes.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates $8.7M for hospital capital improvements and repairs, directly funding healthcare infrastructure to maintain services at three public hospitals.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 840: Supplemental Appropriation to Department of Human Services, fund 0403

This bill increases funding for West Virginia's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) by adding $422,562 for administrative costs and $449,429 for services under fund 0403. It supplements existing appropriations using an unappropriated balance from the State Fund, General Revenue, to support CHIP operations during fiscal year 2026. The funding directly affects CHIP beneficiaries and program administrators by providing additional resources for program management and services. This is a procedural budget adjustment, not a policy change, and it applies to the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases CHIP funding via supplemental appropriation, directly advancing public health program budget allocation using unappropriated balances.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill increases CHIP funding by $871,991 to expand health insurance coverage and services for children, directly advancing public health program resources.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 844: Supplemental Appropriation to Department of Human Services, fund 8722

SB 844 is a supplemental funding bill that allocates additional federal funds to the West Virginia Department of Human Services for medical services. It increases existing appropriations for "Medical Services" (by $1.373 billion) and "Medical Services Administrative Costs" (by $37 million) under Fund 8722 for fiscal year 2026. This funding uses unspent federal moneys designated for the state's medical programs, directly supporting the department's operations for healthcare services. The bill does not create new programs but adjusts how existing federal funds are applied to current medical service expenditures.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $1.373B for medical services funding, increasing state budget appropriations for public healthcare services using federal funds.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $1.373B for medical services and $37M for admin costs under DHS, directly increasing healthcare funding for state medical programs using federal funds.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 848: Supplemental Appropriation to Department of Homeland Security, fund 0450

SB 848 is a supplemental appropriation bill that allocates $84,600 from an unappropriated surplus balance in the State Fund, General Revenue, to cover inmate medical expenses for the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation under the Department of Homeland Security during fiscal year 2026. This funding specifically targets Correctional Units within the Division and uses existing surplus funds identified in the Governor’s budget document. The bill does not create new programs or alter policies but directs available resources to address medical costs for inmates. It is a routine budget adjustment, not a policy change, to ensure necessary healthcare funding for correctional facilities.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds inmate medical expenses in corrections, directly supporting the corrections aspect of criminal justice.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds inmate medical expenses in corrections through targeted appropriation, directly supporting healthcare access for incarcerated individuals within public health programs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 819: Supplemental appropriation to Department Health Facilities, fund 0413

SB 819 redirects $4,906,630 from an unappropriated surplus balance in West Virginia's General Revenue Fund to William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital (fund 0413) for fiscal year 2026. The bill supplements the hospital's existing appropriation by adding a new line item for "Current Expenses - Surplus" to cover operational costs. This procedural budget adjustment directly affects the hospital's funding for the 2026 fiscal year without changing health care policies or creating new obligations. The funds were identified in the Governor's Executive Budget Document as available surplus.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects $4.9M surplus to hospital operations, increasing public service funding via budget reallocation without tax changes.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill redirects $4.9M surplus to fund William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital operations, increasing direct healthcare funding without policy changes.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 897: Relating to licensure and certification of alcohol and drug counselors

SB 897 establishes licensing and certification requirements for alcohol and drug counselors in West Virginia. It defines key terms like "substance use disorder" and "practice of alcohol and drug counseling," which includes evaluating addiction issues, developing treatment plans, and providing trauma-informed care. The bill sets eligibility criteria, application fees, renewal fees, and grandfathering provisions for existing counselors based on education or experience. It also creates disciplinary actions for violations and specifies exceptions for healthcare providers, state employees, and self-help groups. This bill directly affects counselors seeking to provide substance use disorder treatment services in the state.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes licensing standards for substance use disorder counselors, enhancing mental health service quality and patient access through defined practice requirements and trauma-informed care protocols.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 741: Expanding pilot program to implement involuntary commitment process

SB 741 expands the pilot program for involuntary commitment processes to include additional counties: Cabell, Berkeley, Hampshire, Morgan, Ohio, and Wood. The bill requires mental health centers in these counties to provide timely evaluations (in-person or via video) for potential commitment and explain the process to affected individuals. It also mandates quarterly audits of commitment applications to ensure clinical justification, with findings kept confidential. This bill directly affects mental health centers, courts, law enforcement, and individuals subject to involuntary commitment in the expanded counties.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands mental health commitment pilot with timely evaluations and clinical audits, strengthening patient access and rights in mental healthcare services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 906: Permitting lawful prescription of crystalline polymorph psilocybin under FDA recommendations

This bill allows doctors in West Virginia to legally prescribe, distribute, and market specific forms of psilocybin once the FDA approves it and the DEA reschedules it. It amends state pharmacy laws to remove barriers for FDA-approved crystalline polymorph psilocybin products, aligning state regulations with federal decisions. The law applies only to pharmaceutical compositions of psilocybin that meet federal approval standards, not to raw or unapproved forms of the substance. Healthcare providers and pharmacies would be able to handle these medications under existing prescription drug frameworks once federal requirements are met.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands patient access to psilocybin treatments by removing state barriers and aligning with federal approvals, supporting mental health services.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare