Healthcare

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 5610: Authorizing Monitoring Devices in Long-term Care Facilities

HB 5610, titled the "Granting Relatives Access to Monitor Act" (GRAM'S Act), allows residents of West Virginia long-term care facilities (such as nursing homes) or their authorized representatives (like guardians or attorneys in fact) to install electronic monitoring devices (cameras or audio recorders) in their rooms. To do so, the resident or representative must pay for the device and installation (excluding electricity), complete a facility-provided form, and obtain consent from other residents sharing the room. The bill requires facilities to provide consent forms and prohibits unauthorized monitoring, with violations treated as license violations subject to criminal penalties. This directly affects residents seeking monitoring for safety, their families, and long-term care facilities managing these requests.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows monitoring devices in long-term care facilities to protect resident rights and safety, aligning with patient rights protection in healthcare settings.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SJR 20: Fire and Emergency Services Excess Levy Majority Approval Amendment

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to lower the voter approval threshold for local tax increases dedicated exclusively to fire protection or emergency medical services. Currently, most local tax hikes require 60% voter approval, but this amendment would allow such increases to pass with a simple majority (50% plus one vote) instead. The change would apply only to fire and EMS funding, with strict limits: increases could not exceed 50% over current rates, would last no longer than three years, and would require separate voter approval each time. This aims to streamline funding for critical emergency services while maintaining higher approval standards for other local tax increases.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesLowers voter threshold for fire/EMS tax increases, enabling easier funding of essential public services through local taxes with strict limits.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enables lower voter approval for local tax hikes dedicated to EMS (emergency medical services), directly funding a healthcare service under public health programs.85% confidence

Tags Public Safety

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 5, 2026

HB 5266: Requiring West Virginia Medicaid managed care organizations to contract with any otherwise qualified provider

HB 5266 requires West Virginia Medicaid managed care organizations to contract with any qualified hospital, doctor, behavioral health provider, or other provider who meets all licensing, Medicaid enrollment, and credentialing requirements. It mandates that these providers must be offered the same reimbursement rates and contract terms as comparable providers already in the network. The bill applies directly to Medicaid managed care organizations and providers seeking to join their networks, ensuring they cannot exclude qualified providers based on arbitrary criteria. This would create a more open system for providers to participate in West Virginia's Medicaid program.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates Medicaid MCOs to contract with qualified providers, ensuring equal reimbursement and expanding access to healthcare services for Medicaid patients.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicaid Mental Health

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 9, 2026

HB 5108: To fund the Tobacco Use Cessation Initiative

HB 5108 creates a dedicated "Tobacco Cessation Initiative Program Special Revenue Account" managed by the Bureau for Public Health to fund tobacco use cessation programs. It mandates an annual transfer of $5 million from interest earned on the Revenue Shortfall Reserve Fund - Part B to this account, starting July 30, 2026. The funds are specifically designated for tobacco cessation initiatives and must be used as outlined in the bill, with balances carrying over annually. This directly affects the Bureau for Public Health, which administers the programs funded by these dedicated resources.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $5M annually from reserve interest to fund tobacco cessation programs, directly advancing public health funding through dedicated budget allocation.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates $5M annually for tobacco cessation public health programs, directly funding a healthcare-related initiative under the Bureau for Public Health.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Public Health

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 16, 2026

SB 946: Relating to hospital facility fee oversight

SB 946 prohibits most health care providers from charging facility fees for outpatient services, except for services on a hospital campus, at facilities with licensed emergency departments, or for emergency care at freestanding emergency facilities. It specifically bans facility fees for outpatient evaluation services and certain diagnostic/imaging services identified annually by the West Virginia Insurance Commission. The bill requires hospitals, health systems, and freestanding emergency facilities to submit detailed annual reports to the Commission - including revenue data, patient visits, and top procedures - published publicly online. These reports aim to increase transparency about facility fee practices, with the Commission authorized to create rules and impose fines for noncompliance. The law directly affects hospitals, health systems, and freestanding emergency facilities that previously charged these fees.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBans facility fees for outpatient services, reducing patient costs and improving access to care as required by the West Virginia Insurance Commission.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 767: Creating needs-based assessment for EMS

SB 767 establishes a new system for distributing West Virginia's emergency medical services (EMS) funding based on actual community needs rather than equal shares. The bill requires the state health department to conduct a biennial assessment evaluating factors like call volume, response times, financial stability, rural service gaps, and equipment shortages across all EMS agencies. Funding priorities will then target areas with high call volumes, slow response times, personnel shortages, or coverage deficits in rural and underserved communities. The law includes safeguards to prevent arbitrary funding cuts and mandates annual reports to the legislature detailing assessment results and funding allocations. This replaces the current equal-funding approach with a data-driven method to ensure resources reach the most critical areas.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill restructures EMS funding allocation to target high-need areas, promoting efficient budget use for essential services. Supports fiscal management of state appropriations without tax changes.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates needs-based EMS funding system targeting high-need areas like response times and rural gaps, directly improving healthcare access and resource allocation.92% confidence

Tags Public Safety

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 3, 2026

HB 5092: Relating to certification of a patient’s eligibility for medical cannabis

HB 5092 clarifies definitions and eligibility rules for West Virginia's medical cannabis program. It revises the definition of "patient" to require a serious medical condition, meeting certification requirements, and state residency, while updating terms like "certified medical use" and "caregiver." The bill focuses on standardizing terminology in existing law rather than changing who qualifies for medical cannabis. It does not establish new eligibility criteria or alter access for current patients. This definitional update aims to improve consistency in how the program's rules are applied.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies eligibility definitions for medical cannabis, standardizing access rules under existing program without restricting current patients or altering qualifications.85% confidence

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 5, 2026

HB 5242: State Living Donor Protection Act

HB 5242, the State Living Donor Protection Act, prohibits West Virginia insurers from denying or limiting life insurance, major medical coverage, disability insurance, or long-term care insurance based solely on a person's status as a living organ donor. It directly affects living organ donors who might otherwise face coverage denials, premium increases, or policy cancellations due to their donation status. The bill bans insurers from refusing coverage, requiring donors to forgo organ donation as a condition of coverage, or discriminating in policy terms solely because of donation status. These protections apply to all insurers offering such policies in West Virginia, ensuring donors are not penalized for their life-saving actions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits insurers from denying/limiting coverage based on living donation status, directly protecting donor access to health insurance and aligning with patient rights protection in healthcare.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Long-Term Care

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 11, 2026

SB 914: Increasing taxes on tobacco products

SB 914 increases taxes on all tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and electronic smoking devices (like e-cigarettes and vape pens), which are now explicitly defined in the law. It repeals existing tax discounts and removes exemptions for certain products, directly affecting tobacco manufacturers, retailers, and consumers through higher prices. The bill dedicates 10% of the additional tax revenue to West Virginia’s Tobacco Prevention program. This is a direct policy change to raise revenue and fund prevention efforts, with no mention of specific tax rates or additional restrictions beyond taxation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases tobacco taxes while dedicating 10% of revenue to Tobacco Prevention program, directly funding a public health initiative through new tax revenue.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDedicates 10% of tobacco tax revenue to West Virginia's Tobacco Prevention program, directly funding a public health initiative targeting tobacco use.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 6, 2026

SB 822: Revising gold card process to include hospitals or department hospitals

Senate Bill 822 (SB 822) revises West Virginia's "gold card" program, which grants healthcare providers expedited approval for certain services without prior authorization. The bill expands eligibility to include hospitals and department hospitals (state-run hospitals), revises qualification criteria, and extends the gold card's validity period. It also requires the Office of the Insurance Commissioner to standardize the process, permits providers to request performance data used in gold card decisions, and increases civil penalties for violations. This bill directly affects healthcare providers participating in the state's public employees insurance program by streamlining authorization processes and clarifying requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpedites provider approvals for services without prior authorization, improving patient access to care through streamlined hospital eligibility and process standardization.90% confidence

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