Healthcare

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

Track

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

Track

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

Track

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

Track

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

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 13, 2026

SB 940: Establishing early detection cancer screening pilot program for active and retired firefighters

SB 940 establishes a state-funded pilot program offering free, comprehensive cancer screenings to all active and retired permanent firefighters in West Virginia. The program provides blood tests, organ ultrasounds (including heart and abdominal scans), lung CTs if needed, and skin cancer screenings, with a maximum cost of $1,300 per participant. Firefighters may self-fund screenings before July 2026 and seek reimbursement up to the $1,300 limit during the program’s 24-month duration (extendable with approval). The state covers all costs, requires vendors to meet specific screening standards, and mandates annual reports on participation and results to the Governor and legislature. Participation is voluntary, and the program begins July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareState-funded free cancer screenings (up to $1,300) for firefighters expand preventive healthcare access, directly advancing public health services for a high-risk occupational group.95% confidence

Track

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

HB 5631: Relating to the Tobacco Products Excise Tax Act

HB 5631 increases taxes on tobacco products in West Virginia and removes existing tax discounts on stamps. It adds a clear definition for "electronic smoking devices" (including e-cigarettes and vapes) and expands the tax to cover these products, while excluding FDA-approved nicotine products. The bill directs 10% of the collected tax revenue to fund the state's tobacco prevention program. This affects tobacco manufacturers, retailers, and consumers through higher product costs and updated tax rules for vaping products.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases tobacco taxes and allocates 10% revenue to tobacco prevention program, advancing fiscal management for public health funding.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDirects 10% of tobacco tax revenue to fund tobacco prevention program, a public health initiative targeting smoking-related health issues.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue Sales Tax

Track

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

HB 5633: Relating to extending the expiration date on a pilot program administered by the Herbert Henderson Office on Minority Affairs to promote public health through comprehensive community development.

HB 5633 extends the expiration date of a pilot program run by the Herbert Henderson Office on Minority Affairs, which aims to improve public health through community development in West Virginia. The program, currently set to expire on July 1, 2031, will continue addressing poverty, substance abuse, and other health challenges by coordinating existing state and federal resources like housing services and youth programs. It requires collaboration with nonprofit organizations and targets rural, suburban, and urban communities to improve health outcomes and economic development. The program must report progress to the Select Committee on Minority Affairs Interim Committee.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends pilot program improving public health via community development, coordinating resources to address poverty/substance abuse challenges in West Virginia.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health Substance Abuse

Track

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

HB 5366: Relating to rules governing the practice of law

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects confidentiality of mental health records for attorneys, encouraging access to program support without fear of disclosure95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 840: Supplemental Appropriation to Department of Human Services, fund 0403

This bill increases funding for West Virginia's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) by adding $422,562 for administrative costs and $449,429 for services under fund 0403. It supplements existing appropriations using an unappropriated balance from the State Fund, General Revenue, to support CHIP operations during fiscal year 2026. The funding directly affects CHIP beneficiaries and program administrators by providing additional resources for program management and services. This is a procedural budget adjustment, not a policy change, and it applies to the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases CHIP funding via supplemental appropriation, directly advancing public health program budget allocation using unappropriated balances.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill increases CHIP funding by $871,991 to expand health insurance coverage and services for children, directly advancing public health program resources.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Revenue Children's Health Insurance Medicaid