Healthcare (Medicaid)

HB 5645 would impose work requirements for Medicaid and SNAP (food stamp) eligibility in West Virginia. It limits SNAP benefits for able-bodied adults without dependents to three months in a 36-month period unless they work, participate in job training, or volunteer at least 20 hours weekly. The bill requires verification of citizenship status, prohibits non-citizens from receiving SNAP benefits, and mandates hospitals to report certain patient information to the Department of Human Services. It also includes provisions for counties to qualify for work requirement exemptions based on unemployment data, though all counties will lose such exemptions after October 2022. The bill affects low-income adults seeking Medicaid or SNAP benefits who do not have children.

This bill establishes mandatory Medicaid program requirements for West Virginia, directly affecting Medicaid enrollees including adults, children, and individuals receiving coverage under the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Key provisions include implementing a work requirement by January 1, 2027; prohibiting Medicaid use by undocumented residents starting October 1, 2026; requiring biannual eligibility verification; ending multi-state enrollment; removing deceased members quarterly; reducing error rates to 3% by 2028; and limiting retroactive eligibility to 30-60 days. The bill aligns West Virginia’s Medicaid program with federal requirements under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), mandating the Bureau for Medical Services to seek necessary federal authority to implement these changes. It also requires Medicaid waivers to be budget neutral and amends specific taxes related to managed care and providers.

SB 921 prohibits West Virginia Medicaid from funding abortions (except as allowed under existing law) or gender transition procedures. It disqualifies healthcare providers performing these services from participating in Medicaid and bans Medicaid payments for referrals related to them. The bill defines "public funds" broadly to include state and federal healthcare funds and allows lawsuits by affected individuals or the Attorney General to enforce these restrictions. It directly affects Medicaid recipients seeking these services and healthcare providers who perform them.