Healthcare

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jan 21, 2026

HB 4344: Unconscious patients in the ICU

HB 4344, the "Michael Brandon Cochran Act," requires West Virginia hospitals with intensive care units (ICUs) to administer C-peptide blood tests for unconscious patients or those with blood glucose levels at or below 49 mg/dl (regardless of diabetes diagnosis). It also mandates post-mortem C-peptide testing if a patient dies after showing symptoms like brain damage, seizures, or disorientation during ICU care. Hospitals failing to comply face $10,000 fines per violation, while a new grant program helps cover testing costs and staff training for participating hospitals. The bill establishes a dedicated fund to support these requirements, using state funds and private donations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates C-peptide testing for ICU patients to prevent complications, directly enhancing patient safety and care standards in healthcare protocols.95% confidence

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 4760: Requiring insurance to cover certain nutrition and dietary needs

HB 4760 requires West Virginia health insurance plans to cover dietary supplements and nutrition prescriptions recommended by a patient's physician. This applies to all health insurance policies sold in the state and covers items defined as "nutritional wellness and prevention" (like vitamins, minerals, and dietary counseling) that improve health, strengthen immunity, or prevent disease. Insurance companies must cover these items only if they appear on an annual list maintained by the West Virginia Insurance Commission. The bill directly affects insurers, policyholders seeking these services, and the Insurance Commission responsible for updating the coverage list.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for physician-recommended nutrition/dietary services, expanding preventive health access per bill's requirement for 'nutritional wellness and prevention' coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 650: Designating psychiatric hospital that treats exclusively civil and forensic patients

SB 650 amends West Virginia law to define a psychiatric hospital treating exclusively civil and forensic patients (with over 95% of its inpatient census being court-ordered forensic or civil involuntary commitments from state custody) as a "state-designated facility" for tax purposes. This change excludes such hospitals from the category of "eligible acute care hospitals" subject to a 0.75% tax on gross receipts, exempting them from this tax. The bill directly affects psychiatric hospitals in West Virginia meeting this specific patient mix requirement by altering their tax classification under the Medicaid funding structure.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts psychiatric hospitals from 0.75% tax on gross receipts, providing tax relief for designated facilities.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExempts forensic psychiatric facilities from tax, supporting infrastructure for court-ordered patients in criminal justice system.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExempts psychiatric hospitals from 0.75% tax, reducing operational costs to support mental health services for civil/forensic patients.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Hospitals Medicaid Mental Health

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

HB 4068: Requiring Department of Health to report positive Alpha Gal tests to CDC

HB 4068 requires West Virginia's Department of Health to propose rules adding alpha-gal syndrome (a meat allergy triggered by tick bites) to the list of diseases that must be reported to the CDC. This bill amends existing public health reporting requirements under West Virginia Code §16-1-4, directing the Department to include alpha-gal syndrome as a reportable condition. It affects the Department of Health's reporting procedures but does not change testing or treatment for patients. The law focuses on standardizing data collection for public health monitoring, not on patient care or new medical requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates reporting of Alpha Gal syndrome to CDC, enhancing public health surveillance and disease tracking under existing reporting framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 15, 2026

SB 274: Department of Health rule relating to exemption of certificate of need

SB 274 authorizes the West Virginia Department of Health to implement a specific regulatory rule (65 CSR 29) regarding exemptions from Certificate of Need requirements. This bill directly affects healthcare facilities seeking to expand services without undergoing the standard Certificate of Need review process. The legislation formally approves a rule already filed in the State Register on July 21, 2025, allowing the Department to administer these exemptions. It is a procedural bill that does not alter the exemption criteria but enables the Department to enforce the existing rule.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves Certificate of Need requirement barriers for healthcare facility expansion, facilitating access to services without regulatory hurdles85% confidence

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 20, 2026

SB 512: Relating to cost-sharing calculations on behalf of insured persons

SB 512 requires insurers in West Virginia to count cash payments made by insured individuals at discounted rates (below the average in-network rate) toward their in-network cost-sharing requirements. It also prohibits insurers from penalizing patients who receive referrals from out-of-network providers for in-network services. The bill defines key terms like "average allowed amount" (the average payment to in-network providers) and "discounted cash price" to standardize cost-sharing calculations. These changes apply to all health insurance plans delivered in West Virginia starting January 1, 2027, and aim to reduce out-of-pocket costs for consumers using cash-based pricing.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents insurers from penalizing patients for referrals and counts discounted cash payments toward cost-sharing, improving patient access and protecting rights in insurance coverage.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 28, 2026

SB 637: Establishing tax credit for certain physicians who locate to practice in WV

SB 637 creates a tax credit for physicians who move to West Virginia and practice in medically underserved areas. To qualify, physicians must have graduated from an accredited U.S. medical school, completed residency within the past year, and agree to practice in designated underserved areas for six years. The credit equals up to their personal taxable income for three consecutive years, but any unused portion is forfeited after that period. This aims to address West Virginia’s physician shortage by incentivizing new medical professionals to locate in communities with limited healthcare access.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax credit for physicians, providing tax relief as part of fiscal incentive to address healthcare shortages90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareTax credit incentivizes physicians to practice in underserved areas, directly improving healthcare access and addressing physician shortages per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 96: Requiring counties to register automated external defibrillators with Office of Emergency Medical Services

SB 96 requires entities (such as businesses, schools, or organizations) that place automated external defibrillators (AEDs) on their premises to register those devices with the Office of Emergency Medical Services. The registration must include details like AED locations, training records for operators, maintenance plans, and coordination with emergency medical services. The bill eliminates the prior requirement for entities to designate a medical director for their AED program. This registration system aims to improve access to defibrillation during cardiac emergencies by ensuring AEDs are properly documented and accessible to emergency responders.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires AED registration to ensure emergency access, improving public health response infrastructure for cardiac emergencies.95% confidence

Tags Public Safety

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

HB 4392: Banning certain dyes from pharmaceutical products

HB 4392 bans specific dyes (FD&C Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Green No. 3, Red No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, and Yellow No. 6) from being added to pharmaceutical products in West Virginia. This amendment to the state's drug adulteration law makes products containing these dyes legally "adulterated" if sold under recognized names. The bill directly affects pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors who currently use these dyes in medications. The ban will take effect January 1, 2028, if passed.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBans potentially harmful dyes in pharmaceuticals to improve drug safety, directly protecting patient health under healthcare safety standards.90% confidence

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

HB 4917: Relating to the termination of the authority’s certificate of need program

HB 4917 terminates West Virginia's Health Care Authority's certificate of need program, which previously required health facilities to obtain state approval before expanding services or building new facilities. This bill directly affects hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare providers that would have needed these approvals, eliminating that regulatory requirement. Key provisions include repealing related statutes, transferring the Authority's remaining powers and assets to the Secretary of the Department of Health, and directing funds to the general revenue fund. The bill also clarifies exemptions and establishes a summary review process for specific behavioral health services under the Secretary's authority.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareTerminates certificate of need program, reducing regulatory barriers for healthcare facility expansions and improving patient access to services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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