Screening for adverse childhood experiences

House Bill 5238 requires all health insurance plans in West Virginia (both public and private) to cover screening for adverse childhood experiences during routine preventative child wellness visits. For children without health insurance, the State Department of Education must create school-based screening programs through local schools. The bill defines adverse childhood experiences as traumatic events in childhood that increase the risk of chronic health conditions like obesity, heart disease, and respiratory illness. This law directly affects health insurance providers and school systems by mandating accessible screenings to address early childhood trauma.