Healthcare

passed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 5096: Relating to removing services from requiring a certificate of need

HB 5096 removes the requirement for state approval (a "certificate of need") for two specific healthcare services in West Virginia: personal care services and intellectual developmental disabilities (IDD) services. This means healthcare providers offering these services no longer need prior state permission before expanding or establishing them. The bill amends existing law (§16-2D-10) to explicitly exempt these services from the certificate of need process, which previously applied to many healthcare expansions and facility changes. This change directly affects providers of personal care (like assistance with daily living activities) and IDD services (such as support for individuals with developmental disabilities), streamlining their ability to operate without state review.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves certificate of need barriers for personal care/IDD services, easing provider expansion and improving access to healthcare services without restricting coverage or funding.95% confidence

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

HB 5141: Requiring medical insurance providers to include infertility services in their policies

HB 5141 requires all health insurance providers in West Virginia to cover infertility services, directly affecting residents diagnosed with infertility or facing fertility risks from medical treatments like chemotherapy. The bill mandates coverage for diagnosis, medically necessary fertility treatments (including IVF for cases requiring it), and fertility preservation services (like egg/sperm freezing) before procedures known to impair fertility. Insurers must provide these services without prohibited limitations, covering evaluations, medications, donor materials, and storage of preserved reproductive material. This applies to all group health insurance policies and aligns with medical standards for "medically necessary" care, as defined in the bill.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurers to cover infertility services, expanding patient access to fertility treatments and preservation, directly strengthening health coverage under healthcare policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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

HB 5672: Relating to collecting a tax from all manufacturers and distributors of opioid drugs

HB 5672 imposes an annual excise tax on opioid manufacturers and distributors selling Schedule II drugs to West Virginia pharmacies. The tax equals one cent per 100 pills multiplied by the previous year's state opioid overdose death count (as reported by the Department of Health). Pharmacies collect this tax from manufacturers/distributors (not patients) and remit it to the Ryan Brown Addiction Prevention and Recovery Fund. This revenue directly funds state addiction prevention and recovery programs. The tax rate adjusts yearly based on updated overdose statistics.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes tax on opioid manufacturers to fund addiction prevention/recovery programs, directly increasing state budget allocation for essential services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDirectly funds addiction prevention/recovery programs via opioid manufacturer tax, advancing public health initiatives as specified in bill's purpose.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Substance Abuse

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

HB 5082: Related to menstrual products in correctional facilities

HB 5082 requires West Virginia correctional facilities, regional jails, and juvenile detention centers to provide free feminine hygiene products (tampons and sanitary napkins) to female inmates and female juveniles upon request, with delivery within eight hours. The bill amends existing laws to explicitly mandate this provision, ensuring no cost to individuals who menstruate while incarcerated. This policy change applies directly to all female individuals in state custody who require these products, addressing a basic health need without financial burden.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates free menstrual products in correctional facilities, advancing humane treatment and aligning with criminal justice reform goals of dignity and basic needs for incarcerated women.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates free menstrual products in correctional facilities, ensuring access to essential health hygiene for incarcerated women, directly improving health access and public health outcomes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Juvenile Justice

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

HB 5559: To facilitate interstate practice of Regulated Social Workers by improving public access to competent Social Work Services.

HB 5559 creates West Virginia's participation in the Social Work Licensure Compact, enabling licensed social workers to practice across multiple participating states using a single "multistate license" instead of obtaining separate licenses in each state. It directly affects licensed social workers seeking to practice in more than one member state, as well as clients needing consistent access to social work services. The key provision establishes standardized requirements for multistate licensure, including background checks, and creates a commission to manage the compact's operations and resolve disputes between states. This eliminates barriers for social workers moving between states while ensuring public access to qualified professionals under a unified licensing system.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill improves access to social work services (a healthcare profession) via multistate licensure, directly advancing patient access to mental health/social services per topic definition.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Tags Licensing

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

HB 5102: Relating to coverage for the treatment of stuttering

HB 5102 requires all health insurance plans in West Virginia to cover habilitative speech therapy for stuttering, effective July 1, 2026. It mandates that plans cover this treatment without annual visit limits, restrictions based on stuttering's cause (like developmental vs. acquired), or prior authorization requirements. The bill also requires coverage for both in-person and telehealth speech therapy services. This affects all health insurance policies sold in West Virginia that cover speech therapy, including employer-sponsored and individual plans.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for stuttering therapy without restrictions, expanding access to speech therapy services per bill requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Telehealth

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passed · West Virginia · Senate Mar 5, 2026

SB 956: Authorizing physician assistants to own business

Senate Bill 956 removes requirements that physician assistants (PAs) in West Virginia must work under direct physician supervision or collaboration. It allows PAs to own medical businesses, practice independently without mandated supervision, and be held to the same standard of care as other licensed healthcare providers. The bill amends specific sections of West Virginia law (§30-3-14, §30-3-15, §31B-13-1301) and adds a new section (§30-3E-21) to formalize these changes, including classifying PAs as a "professional service" under business law. This directly affects PAs by expanding their scope of practice and business ownership opportunities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves supervision requirements for PAs, enabling independent practice and business ownership, which improves healthcare access and aligns PAs with other providers per bill's intent.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 23, 2026

HB 5569: To reinstate the discount on insurance for retired firefighters hired after 2010

HB 5569 reinstates a discounted health insurance premium rate for retired firefighters who were hired after 2010. The bill amends West Virginia's Public Employees Insurance Act to specifically restore this discount, which was previously removed for this group. This policy change directly affects retired firefighters hired after 2010 who would now qualify for the same reduced insurance rates as other retired public employees. The provision requires the finance board to reinstate this discount under the state's insurance program.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRestores discounted health insurance for retired firefighters, improving access to coverage for a specific public employee group.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 23, 2026

SB 1075: Funding Tobacco Use Cessation Initiative

SB 1075 creates a dedicated "Tobacco Cessation Initiative Program Special Revenue Account" in West Virginia's state treasury, managed by the Bureau for Public Health. It directs $5 million annually - starting July 2026 - from interest earned on the Revenue Shortfall Reserve Fund to fund tobacco use cessation programs. The bill specifies these funds must be used exclusively for cessation services, such as counseling and nicotine replacement therapies, administered by the Bureau for Public Health. This initiative directly affects West Virginians seeking tobacco cessation support through state-funded programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $5M annually from interest earnings to fund tobacco cessation programs, directly supporting public health funding through dedicated budget allocation.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $5M annually to public health tobacco cessation programs, directly funding counseling and nicotine therapies through the Bureau for Public Health.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Public Health

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

HB 5168: To increase funding for EMS first responders.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates $6M annually from lottery fund to EMS for crisis response and mental health services, directly increasing emergency healthcare funding and support.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentDirectly funds EMS worker salaries via $6M annual transfer, enhancing compensation for emergency medical services professionals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Tags Public Safety