Healthcare

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

HB 5615: Relating to Teleheatlh

HB 5615 removes the requirement for an in-person visit before a patient's first telemedicine appointment in West Virginia. For patients who have had an in-person visit with the same provider within the past three years, the bill mandates an in-person follow-up within 12 months of the initial telemedicine service, with exceptions for acute care, behavioral health, addiction treatment, or palliative care. It also restricts prescribing Schedule II controlled substances (like strong opioids) via telehealth without special authorization, except for patients with an established provider relationship. These changes aim to standardize telehealth practice while ensuring patient safety through documentation and confidentiality rules.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves in-person barrier for telehealth access, allows exceptions for mental health/addiction care, improves patient access to healthcare services85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse Telehealth

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 998: Recruiting mental health professionals focusing on children and adolescents

SB 998 creates a loan repayment program targeting mental health professionals who treat children and adolescents in West Virginia. It directly affects licensed providers in fields like clinical psychologists, social workers, and nurse practitioners who meet specific eligibility criteria. The program repays student loans annually based on 12 consecutive months of full-time employment in the state, with a maximum of 10 years of repayment. To qualify, applicants must hold a West Virginia license, have eligible student loans in good standing, and maintain full-time employment in the designated field.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates loan repayment for mental health professionals serving children/adolescents, directly enhancing student mental health support in educational settings per topic definition.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates loan repayment program to recruit child/adolescent mental health providers, expanding access to services and incentivizing workforce growth in a critical healthcare need.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Mental Health

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

HB 5568: Relating to the payment of services rendered in proceedings under Chapter 49

HB 5568 amends West Virginia law to clarify how payments are made for services provided to children in court cases under Chapter 49 (child welfare and family proceedings). It requires courts to order the agency with legal custody of a child to pay for professional services (such as therapy or counseling) at Medicaid rates, or at a higher rate if services aren’t provided within 30 days. The bill also covers "socially necessary services" provided by approved entities, with reimbursement rates set by the Department of Human Services. This ensures state funds are used efficiently by requiring a direct connection between the services and the legal case.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates Medicaid-rate payments for child therapy/counseling in court cases, ensuring mental health service access and preventing delays in care for vulnerable youth.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Tags Children

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

HB 5333: To allow patients to refuse residents and medical students from observing or performing medical care on patients

HB 5333 allows patients in West Virginia hospitals to refuse having medical residents or medical students observe or perform their medical care. The bill requires hospitals to create and implement clear policies informing patients of this right before procedures. It directly affects all patients receiving care in participating hospitals, ensuring they can make decisions about who participates in their treatment. The law changes hospital procedures by mandating patient notification, not altering medical standards or care delivery.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects patient autonomy by allowing refusal of medical student/resident observation, mandating hospital policies for informed consent in healthcare settings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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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

Sub-Topics Appropriations

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 13, 2026

SB 766: Creating Caregiver Tax Credit Act

SB 766 creates a nonrefundable tax credit for West Virginia family caregivers of eligible elderly relatives. It allows caregivers to claim a 50% credit on qualifying out-of-pocket expenses (up to $2,000 annually, or $3,000 for veteran caregivers), including home modifications, medical equipment, hiring care aides, respite care, and adult day care. The credit applies to expenses directly related to assisting an eligible family member (62+ years old, living at home, requiring help with daily activities like bathing or dressing, and certified by a healthcare provider). The credit begins for tax years starting January 1, 2028, with a $5 million annual cap on total credits, adjusted annually based on the consumer price index.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax credit reducing burden for caregivers, aligning with tax relief for middle/lower income families through nonrefundable credit on essential care expenses.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill provides tax credits for health-related caregiver expenses (medical equipment, care aides, respite care) for elderly, improving access to home-based health services and supporting family caregivers.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly provides $1,000 higher annual tax credit ($3,000 vs $2,000) specifically for veteran caregivers, directly expanding benefits for veterans' families.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 21, 2026

SB 1047: Establishing Community Well-Being, Recovery Housing, and Family Stabilization Act

SB 1047 creates a non-criminal system to address homelessness, addiction, and mental health challenges by requiring law enforcement to issue verbal warnings, then written warnings, and finally refer individuals to community behavioral health centers after three encounters - replacing arrests or citations. The bill sets standards for recovery housing to be substance-free, trauma-informed, and long-term, with specific provisions for family recovery housing supporting pregnant women and mothers with children. It prohibits criminalizing homelessness or addiction, integrates community behavioral health centers with recovery housing services, and mandates an annual report from a state advisory team, all using existing state resources without new funding. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReplaces arrests for homelessness/addiction with behavioral health referrals, reducing criminalization and promoting treatment-based reform per bill's core mechanism.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRedirects individuals from law enforcement to behavioral health centers, establishing community-based mental health services and recovery housing standards.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill establishes recovery housing standards for homelessness, focusing on trauma-informed, substance-free housing and family stabilization, advancing housing stability through behavioral health referrals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Mental Health Substance Abuse Homelessness

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

HB 5241: Relating to insurance coverage for breast cancer screening

HB 5241 requires health insurers in West Virginia to cover specific breast cancer screenings starting January 1, 2026. It mandates annual mammograms for women aged 40+ and baseline mammograms for women 30-39, with additional annual screenings for those under 40 who have family history or risk factors. The bill also requires insurers to cover comprehensive ultrasound screenings when mammograms show dense breast tissue (per American College of Radiology guidelines) or for high-risk patients. Additionally, it mandates that mammography facilities notify patients about breast density and associated risks, providing educational materials without creating new legal obligations for providers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurers to cover specific breast cancer screenings, including high-risk cases and dense breast tissue ultrasounds, expanding preventive care access per medical guidelines.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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

HB 5213: Relating to involuntary commitment process pilot program.

HB 5213 expands West Virginia's involuntary commitment pilot program to include Cabell, Berkeley, Hampshire, Morgan, and Ohio counties. It requires mental health centers to provide timely evaluations (in-person or via video when delays would occur) and explain commitment processes to individuals. The bill mandates quarterly audits of commitment applications to ensure clinical justification and establishes a process to develop standards for alternative transportation providers before they can be used. These changes directly affect mental health centers, courts, law enforcement, and the Department of Human Services in the pilot counties.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands mental health commitment process with timely evaluations and audits, strengthening patient access and rights in mental health care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 13, 2026

HB 5379: To require payment by insurers directly to the out-of-network emergency medical services agency and the prompt payment of clean claims.

HB 5379 requires health insurers in West Virginia to pay out-of-network emergency medical services agencies (like ambulances) directly for covered ground ambulance services, rather than reimbursing patients. Insurers must pay "clean claims" (properly submitted claims without errors) within 30 days of receipt, with exceptions for fraud, coordination with other insurers, or prior payment. The bill also mandates that insurers provide written notice within 30 days if denying a claim, specifying the reason or needed additional information. This directly affects ambulance providers who previously relied on patient reimbursement and insurers who must adjust payment processes. The law aims to streamline payment for emergency services while reducing patient financial burden.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires insurers to pay emergency providers directly and within 30 days, reducing patient financial burden and improving access to emergency care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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