This bill creates three regional pediatric mental health hubs (Northern, Southern, and Central) in West Virginia to improve access to care for children under 12. Each hub must maintain real-time service directories, live wait-time maps for counselors, and provide parents with a behavioral health coach within 48 hours during waitlists. It also establishes secure telehealth kiosks in county health departments for families without high-speed internet. The bill redirects 5% of current "Out-of-State Residential Placement" funds to cover these in-home services, prioritizing community support over removing children from their homes due to unavailable local resources.
HB 5168 establishes two new funds to increase emergency medical services (EMS) funding across West Virginia. The County Emergency Medical Services Fund supports counties with dedicated EMS taxes or fees, while the All County Emergency Medical Services Fund provides uniform support to all counties. The bill transfers $6 million annually from the state lottery fund to the renamed EMS Salary Enhancement, Crisis Response, and Mental Health Treatment Fund (for worker salaries and crisis services) and $3 million each to the two new funds. These funds must be used exclusively to boost EMS worker salaries, improve crisis response, and support mental health services to help retain staff.
HB 5366 amends West Virginia law to clarify that certain records related to the West Virginia Judicial and Lawyer Assistance Program are confidential and not subject to public records requests. It directly affects attorneys who use this program, which provides support for mental health and substance abuse issues. The bill specifically states that records gathered under the program’s rules - covering procedures, referrals, and services - are exempt from disclosure under the state’s Freedom of Information Act. This change ensures these sensitive attorney assistance records remain private, preventing public access while maintaining program confidentiality.
HB 5085 requires private residential programs for adolescents with behavioral or emotional challenges to obtain a license from West Virginia’s Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification. The bill mandates background checks for all staff with direct contact with youth, prohibits physical discipline or denial of education, and requires programs to report restraints/seclusion within one business day. It also mandates written policies for suicide prevention, allows parents to remove youth or request weekly video calls, and requires programs to publicly post complaint procedures. The law directly affects operators of these residential programs (excluding schools, camps, or faith-based organizations), imposing new licensing, safety, and transparency requirements.
HB 5370, "Caitlyn's Law," would require a mandatory 24-hour hospital hold for individuals suspected of having a substance use disorder (as defined by the DSM) who are deemed at risk of causing serious harm to themselves or others due to their addiction. This applies when someone lacks judgment about needing treatment due to substance impairment, but excludes cases based solely on dementia, epilepsy, or intellectual disabilities. The bill mandates evaluation by a mental hygiene commissioner or licensed professional within that 24-hour period to determine if further involuntary treatment is needed. It directly affects individuals in West Virginia with suspected substance use disorders who meet specific risk criteria. The bill is currently in committee referral following its introduction on February 9, 2026.
HB 5122 creates a new West Virginia Medicaid Buy-In Program to provide affordable health coverage to residents who earn too much for Medicaid but too little for private insurance, specifically those ineligible for both Medicaid and Medicare whose employers haven’t denied their group coverage. The program, administered by the Department of Human Services starting January 2027, offers income-based premiums (with priority for those transitioning from Medicaid) and covers essential services like emergency care, prescriptions, mental health treatment, and pediatric services. It requires reimbursement rates to align with Medicaid standards and mandates efforts to maximize federal funding through existing Medicaid options and waivers. The bill ensures non-discrimination in access and aims to maintain coverage continuity between the new program, Medicaid, and private plans.
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.
HB 5093 allows individuals convicted of nonviolent felonies to work in licensed behavioral health facilities after completing their criminal sentences, provided they meet conditions set by new rules. The West Virginia Department of Health must create these rules for legislative approval, focusing on patient and staff safety while not overriding existing professional licensing requirements under Chapter 30. The bill directly affects formerly incarcerated individuals seeking employment in this sector and facilities that hire them. It requires specific safety-focused regulations but does not change current licensing standards for regulated professions.
HB 5057 creates the Rural Mobile Health Services Program to expand access to essential health and mental health care in West Virginia's rural and underserved areas. The bill authorizes the Department of Health to award grants to eligible providers like community health centers, schools, and local health departments for mobile clinics and telehealth services. Grant funds cover mobile unit costs, telehealth technology, and staffing for services including primary care, mental health, and school-based health clinics. Applications that demonstrate collaboration between health departments, schools, or local governments receive priority for funding.
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.
