SB 884 requires health insurance plans (including Medicaid) to cover intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy for children diagnosed with specific conditions, including pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS) and pediatric acute onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS). The bill applies to all health insurance plans issued or renewed after January 1, 2027, directly affecting pediatric patients with these conditions and their insurers. Key provisions mandate that physicians must obtain prior authorization by demonstrating all other treatment options have been exhausted before IVIG coverage is approved. This law aims to standardize coverage for these complex neurological conditions while adding a clinical review step to ensure appropriate use of the treatment.
This bill creates three regional pediatric mental health hubs (Northern, Southern, and Central) in West Virginia to improve access to care for children under 12. Each hub must maintain real-time service directories, live wait-time maps for counselors, and provide parents with a behavioral health coach within 48 hours during waitlists. It also establishes secure telehealth kiosks in county health departments for families without high-speed internet. The bill redirects 5% of current "Out-of-State Residential Placement" funds to cover these in-home services, prioritizing community support over removing children from their homes due to unavailable local resources.
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.
HB 5301 increases funding for West Virginia's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) by $871,991 using unused state funds. It specifically adds $422,562 for CHIP administrative costs and $449,429 for CHIP services under the Department of Human Services. This supplemental appropriation draws from the unappropriated balance in the State Fund, General Revenue, to cover existing program expenses during fiscal year 2026. The bill does not change CHIP eligibility or benefits but ensures current funding levels for administration and services.
HB 4146 requires all public school employees in West Virginia - including teachers, administrators, bus drivers, and custodians - to receive all childhood vaccines (such as flu shots, measles, and HPV) following the pediatric schedule, with no religious or philosophical exemptions allowed. It mandates a 21-day quarantine for school staff traveling to states that permit vaccine exemptions for students, and requires visitors (like parents or contractors) to show proof of vaccination before entering public school buildings. The bill applies directly to school staff and visitors, not students, and specifies exact vaccine requirements without allowing exemptions for personnel.
HB 4899 requires all West Virginia hospitals and medical offices to send a notice to patients who were under 18 during a medical or surgical procedure when they turn 18. The notice informs them that if they later experience negative or adverse effects from that childhood procedure, they should contact the original provider. This bill amends the West Virginia Medical Practice Act (§30-3-7) to mandate this notification process, directly affecting former pediatric patients turning 18. It establishes a specific mechanism for providers to proactively share this information without altering medical standards or creating new penalties.
HB 4197 requires all health insurance plans in West Virginia to cover medically necessary treatments for pediatric patients diagnosed with PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections) or PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome). The bill mandates coverage for specific treatments including antibiotics, medications, behavioral therapies, immunomodulating medicines, plasma exchange, and IVIG therapy, without higher copays or deductibles than other covered services. Insurers cannot deny or delay coverage based on prior treatment history, alternative diagnoses (like autoimmune encephalopathy), or previous coverage for similar conditions. This applies to all group health insurance plans and managed care organizations issued or renewed in West Virginia on or after January 1, 2027.
SB 71 requires health insurance plans in West Virginia to cover intravenous immunoglobulin therapy for pediatric patients diagnosed with specific conditions: pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS), pediatric acute onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS), and related autoimmune encephalopathies. This applies to all health insurance plans (including Medicaid) issued or renewed after January 1, 2027 (Medicaid) or July 1, 2027 (other plans). The key provision mandates that coverage is only available after a physician obtains prior authorization by demonstrating all other treatments have been exhausted. The bill directly affects children with these conditions and their families, ensuring access to this specific treatment while adding a step to verify medical necessity.
