Healthcare

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 20, 2026

SB 548: Requiring transparency of dental health care insurance products

This bill requires West Virginia dental insurance companies to publicly report how much of each premium dollar is spent on actual dental care versus administrative costs, using a standardized format similar to federal requirements. It mandates annual transparency reports showing medical loss ratios (the minimum percentage of premiums spent on care), allows consumers to compare insurers online, and requires rebates to policyholders if less than 80% of premiums fund patient care. The law also prohibits insurers from forcing dentists to accept only credit card payments with fees and ensures clear payment method options. It directly affects dental insurers, dentists, and dental insurance customers in West Virginia.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires dental insurers to disclose premium spending on care vs admin, mandates rebates for low medical loss ratios, enhancing consumer transparency and accountability in healthcare insurance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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passed · West Virginia · Senate Mar 5, 2026

SB 677: Relating to professionals licensed by WV Board of Medicine

SB 677 establishes a new licensing framework for genetic counselors in West Virginia, requiring a valid license to practice and mandating criminal background checks for all applicants. It prohibits genetic counselors from representing themselves as licensed physicians, with violations punishable by up to two years in prison or a $2,000 fine. The bill also sets continuing education requirements, defines the scope of practice for genetic counselors, and creates separate disciplinary procedures under the West Virginia Board of Medicine.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRegulates genetic counselors to ensure qualified practitioners, enhancing patient safety and professional standards within healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

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

HB 4982: Make West Virginia Healthy Act of 2026

HB 4982 reestablishes West Virginia's statewide Healthy Lifestyles program, creating the Office of Healthy Lifestyles within the Department of Health. It directly affects all West Virginia residents, particularly Medicaid members with nutrition-related chronic diseases (like obesity or diabetes), by expanding access to "Food Is Medicine" services such as nutrition counseling, medically tailored meals, and grocery provisions. Key provisions include requiring the Bureau for Medical Services to design nutrition-based interventions to reduce healthcare costs, establishing a Healthy Lifestyle Coalition with 13 members to coordinate state and community efforts, and mandating physical fitness initiatives in schools. The bill also repeals previous program sections and adds new rules to promote nutritious food access and prevent diet-related diseases.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareReestablishes Healthy Lifestyles program expanding nutrition services (counseling, meals) for Medicaid patients with chronic diseases, directly improving healthcare access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 14, 2026

HB 4070: Relating to natural immunity or antibodies to any illness to be treated as equal or better to vaccine induced immunity

HB 4070 would classify individuals who have naturally developed immunity from a communicable or infectious disease as "fully vaccinated" for all purposes, requiring them to be treated equally or preferentially compared to those with vaccine-induced immunity. The bill applies to all communicable or infectious diseases and directly affects people who recovered from an illness without vaccination. It changes how immunity is legally recognized in West Virginia, making natural immunity equivalent to vaccine immunity in policy implementation. This does not eliminate vaccination requirements but reclassifies natural immunity as meeting the "fully vaccinated" standard.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill equates natural immunity with vaccine immunity, potentially reducing vaccination rates and undermining public health initiatives that rely on vaccine coverage.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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

HB 4819: Relating to use of criminal records as disqualification from authorization to practice a particular profession

HB 4819 would change West Virginia's licensing rules for professions requiring state authorization. It prevents disqualification for most past criminal convictions unless the crime directly relates to the profession's duties and poses a clear public risk. Licensing agencies must now consider factors like the crime's nature, time passed since conviction, and evidence of rehabilitation (such as completed treatment or employment history) before denying a license. Applicants with past convictions can petition for reconsideration after five years without new offenses (excluding violent/sexual crimes), with agencies required to respond within 60 days. This affects all individuals seeking professional licenses in West Virginia, including fields like healthcare, education, or licensed trades.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill reduces licensing barriers for individuals with past convictions by requiring rehabilitation consideration, aligning with criminal justice reform goals to lower recidivism and support reentry.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill removes barriers for healthcare professionals with past convictions, expanding workforce access and improving patient access to services by reducing licensing restrictions.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill removes unnecessary barriers to professional licensing for individuals with criminal records, expanding employment opportunities and promoting fair hiring practices per employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Professional Licensing Tags Licensing

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 27, 2026

SB 601: Authorizing medical parole for certain inmates

Senate Bill 601 authorizes medical parole for West Virginia inmates with terminal illnesses, medical incapacity, or geriatric conditions (defined as age 55+ with chronic health issues requiring daily assistance). It creates a formal process where inmates or their representatives can submit a petition including a detailed medical parole plan outlining diagnosis, treatment, care location, and financial coverage. Correctional superintendents must review petitions within 72 hours of a terminal illness diagnosis and develop a plan if missing, with the commissioner making the final decision. This policy directly affects eligible incarcerated individuals meeting the defined medical criteria, offering a structured pathway for release based on health needs rather than traditional parole.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAuthorizes medical parole for terminally ill/geriatric inmates, reducing unnecessary incarceration - a recognized criminal justice reform measure.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires detailed medical parole plans including diagnosis, treatment, and care location, improving healthcare access for terminally ill inmates.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 15, 2026

HB 4383: West Virginia Clean Air in Schools Act of 2026

HB 4383, the West Virginia Clean Air in Schools Act of 2026, requires all K-12 schools in West Virginia to install air quality monitors measuring CO₂, PM2.5, VOCs, and humidity by 2029. The bill mandates phased implementation: monitors in all elementary classrooms by 2027, 50% of middle/high school classrooms by 2028 (prioritizing special education and high-risk areas), and full coverage by 2029. Schools must publicly display real-time air quality data via a state-maintained dashboard and submit corrective action plans if pollution exceeds health standards. This directly affects every county school district operating K-12 facilities across West Virginia.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates air quality monitoring in all K-12 schools to improve indoor environment, directly supporting school infrastructure and student health within educational settings.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates monitoring of environmental pollutants (PM2.5, VOCs) in schools, advancing pollution control and environmental health protections per bill's requirements.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates air quality monitoring in schools to improve indoor air quality, a public health measure directly protecting student and staff health per bill's Health subject classification.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Special Education Student Health Air Quality

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 21, 2026

SB 565: Requiring PEIA and other health insurance providers to provide payment parity for certain services

SB 565 requires West Virginia's Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) and other health insurance providers to pay behavioral health, mental health, and substance use disorder providers the same rate as medical/surgical providers for comparable services. This applies to licensed practitioners (e.g., psychologists, counselors) who submit claims with standard diagnostic codes, provider IDs, and facility details. Insurers cannot reduce physician reimbursements to comply with this rule or apply stricter non-quantitative limits to behavioral health care than to medical care. The bill directly affects behavioral health providers by ensuring equal payment for services previously subject to lower reimbursement rates.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates equal reimbursement rates for mental health services, strengthening provider access and coverage parity per bill's payment parity requirement for behavioral health.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 26, 2026

HB 4821: Creating the Affordable Medicaid Buy-In Program

HB 4821 creates a new state-run health insurance program in West Virginia that allows eligible residents to "buy in" to a Medicaid-like plan. It directly affects adults who are ineligible for Medicaid or Medicare but remain enrolled in employer-sponsored coverage (and whose employers haven’t denied them coverage due to this program). The plan uses a sliding-scale premium based on income, covers essential services like hospital care, mental health, prescriptions, and preventive care, and must coordinate with existing Medicaid to avoid coverage gaps. The West Virginia Department of Human Services will administer the program, prioritizing those transitioning from Medicaid, and must apply for federal funding to maximize cost efficiency.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates Medicaid-like buy-in program for eligible adults, covers essential services with sliding-scale premiums, expanding access to health coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance Medicaid

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 29, 2026

HB 4117: Prohibiting surprise billing of ground emergency medical services by nonparticipating providers

HB 4117 prohibits surprise billing for ground emergency ambulance services by nonparticipating providers in West Virginia. It requires health insurers to pay ambulance providers directly (at the lesser of 400% of Medicare's rate or the provider's billed charges) within 30 days of receiving a clean claim, and bans providers from billing patients for amounts beyond what the insurer requires (like copays or deductibles). This directly affects patients receiving ambulance services, nonparticipating ambulance agencies, and health insurers. The bill ensures patients won’t face unexpected bills for emergency ground ambulance care, with clear payment rules and written denial notices for denied claims.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits surprise billing for emergency ambulance services, requiring insurers to pay providers directly and protecting patients from excessive out-of-pocket costs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicare

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