Healthcare (Healthcare Workforce)

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 13, 2026

HB 5021: Relating to the limited circumstances in which a registered nurse may administer anesthetics.

This bill clarifies that registered nurses in West Virginia may administer anesthetics only when ordered by a physician in an acute care setting, such as a hospital. It does not expand nurses' scope of practice but specifies the limited context where this current authority applies. The change affects registered nurses working in acute care facilities, ensuring they operate within defined parameters. The amendment updates existing law to explicitly restrict this practice to acute care environments.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts registered nurses' scope to acute care settings under physician order, limiting where anesthetics may be administered without expanding access or coverage.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Hospitals Medical Licensing

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 6, 2026

SB 807: Authorizing physician assistants to own business

SB 807 allows physician assistants (PAs) in West Virginia to own medical practices or businesses, which was previously restricted under state law. The bill amends licensing rules to permit PAs to be shareholders in medical corporations and to form professional LLCs under the Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. It also prohibits PAs from receiving licenses or authorizations for referrals where they have a financial interest in the referral source. This directly affects PAs seeking greater business ownership opportunities while maintaining safeguards against conflicts of interest in patient referrals. The policy change updates professional licensing provisions without altering PA scope of practice or clinical responsibilities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows physician assistants to own medical practices, expanding provider autonomy and improving access to healthcare services by enabling PAs to establish independent practices.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 10, 2026

HB 5428: Relating to providing traumatic event counseling for peace officers.

HB 5428 requires employers of peace officers, firefighters, and 911 dispatchers to provide up to 12 sessions of licensed counseling (via telehealth if desired) for employees exposed to specific traumatic events in the line of duty, such as witnessing death, using deadly force, or responding to child-related incidents. Employers must cover up to 24 additional counseling sessions within one year if a mental health professional deems them necessary for recovery. The bill also prohibits requiring employees to use accrued leave for counseling appointments and ensures no loss of pay or benefits for up to 30 days if deemed unfit for duty during treatment, subject to specific conditions. It allows employees to select their own licensed mental health professional and clarifies that payment does not create a presumption of compensable claims.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProvides mental health support for law enforcement officers after traumatic incidents, promoting officer well-being and accountability in criminal justice operations.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates employer coverage for mental health counseling for first responders exposed to trauma, directly expanding access to mental health services.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates employer-provided mental health counseling for trauma exposure during work duties, enhancing workplace safety and employee well-being for high-risk professions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Mental Health Substance Abuse Tags Public Safety

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passed · West Virginia · Senate Mar 8, 2026

SB 778: Relating to eligibility for homebound services for exceptional children

SB 778 amends West Virginia law to allow nurse practitioners and physician assistants, alongside physicians, to certify students with disabilities as eligible for homebound educational services. This change directly affects families of exceptional children who require homebound instruction due to injury or health conditions. The key provision removes the previous restriction requiring certification only by physicians, expanding who can authorize this service. The bill aims to streamline access to homebound education by broadening the pool of qualified medical professionals who can make this determination.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands eligibility for homebound services by allowing nurse practitioners/physician assistants to certify, removing physician-only restriction and streamlining access for exceptional children in K-12 education.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands healthcare provider roles (NPs/PAs) to certify homebound services, improving access for children with health conditions by removing physician-only restriction.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

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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 5681: Relating to empowering qualified certified nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives to prescribe, administer, and dispense prescriptions drugs without a collaborating physician.

HB 5681 would allow qualified certified nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives in West Virginia to prescribe, administer, and dispense prescription drugs without needing a collaborating physician. Currently, state law requires these professionals to have a written agreement with a physician to prescribe medications, but the bill removes this requirement. The legislation amends specific sections of the West Virginia Code governing registered nurses and their practice standards. This change would directly affect nurse practitioners and midwives by expanding their independent prescribing authority for medications.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves physician collaboration requirement for nurse practitioners, expanding access to prescription drugs and improving healthcare access per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 13, 2026

HB 5523: Relating to establishing minimum requirements for discharge of women in later stages of pregnancy from hospitals.

HB 5523 requires hospitals, clinics, and emergency departments in West Virginia to provide a physician or certified nurse midwife examination before discharging any woman in the later stages of pregnancy. It mandates that facilities provide written and verbal discharge instructions covering key topics like labor signs, warning symptoms, activity guidance, follow-up care, and emergency contacts, all in accessible language. The instructions must be reviewed with the patient or their representative, and the facility must document that they were provided. This bill directly affects pregnant patients in late-stage pregnancy and healthcare facilities across the state, aiming to improve safety through standardized discharge protocols.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates comprehensive discharge instructions to protect patient safety during pregnancy care, advancing patient access and rights in healthcare delivery.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Women's Health

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 998: Recruiting mental health professionals focusing on children and adolescents

SB 998 creates a loan repayment program targeting mental health professionals who treat children and adolescents in West Virginia. It directly affects licensed providers in fields like clinical psychologists, social workers, and nurse practitioners who meet specific eligibility criteria. The program repays student loans annually based on 12 consecutive months of full-time employment in the state, with a maximum of 10 years of repayment. To qualify, applicants must hold a West Virginia license, have eligible student loans in good standing, and maintain full-time employment in the designated field.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates loan repayment for mental health professionals serving children/adolescents, directly enhancing student mental health support in educational settings per topic definition.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates loan repayment program to recruit child/adolescent mental health providers, expanding access to services and incentivizing workforce growth in a critical healthcare need.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Mental Health

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 2, 2026

HB 5054: Relating to requiring the counties particpating in the QMHP Pilot Program to have at least one qualified mental health professional in each public school in that county.

HB 5054 requires counties participating in West Virginia's QMHP Pilot Program to ensure every public school in the county has at least one qualified mental health professional (QMHP). A QMHP is defined as a registered mental health professional (including school counselors, who are automatically classified as QMHPs under the bill) who collaborates with schools but does not practice independently. This mandate applies only to schools in counties that join the pilot program, aiming to guarantee student access to mental health support. The bill does not alter existing school counselor duties but formalizes their role in meeting the QMHP requirement.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates mental health staffing in public schools to enhance student support services, aligning with educational access and student program enhancement indicators.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health professionals in public schools for QMHP Pilot Program, directly advancing mental health services under healthcare policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Healthcare Workforce Mental Health

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in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 743: Creating exemption to prescription limitations for mid-level providers

SB 743 creates an exemption from standard opioid prescription limits for mid-level providers (like nurse practitioners and physician assistants) working in hospice care. It requires these providers to be licensed, employed exclusively by licensed hospice providers, and supervised by a physician medical director. The exemption allows them to prescribe Schedule II opioids without the usual 30-day supply limits in hospice settings, while maintaining all other existing prescription rules for non-hospice care. This change specifically applies to hospice patients receiving palliative care, aligning with current exceptions for hospice services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExempts hospice mid-level providers from opioid prescription limits, improving access to pain management in end-of-life care while maintaining safety protocols.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Substance Abuse

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