Healthcare

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

HB 4740: Statutory Commitments in Rural Health Transformation Program

This bill exempts the West Virginia Department of Health from certain state purchasing restrictions when implementing the federal Rural Health Transformation Program. The legislation allows the state to use federal funds more flexibly to meet the program's strict requirements for rapid deployment and specific use of money in rural healthcare areas. By overriding existing state purchasing laws, the bill ensures the Department of Health can comply with federal guidelines from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services without administrative delays. This change directly affects the state's ability to manage federal grants aimed at improving healthcare infrastructure and services in rural communities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enables flexible use of federal funds for rural healthcare, improving access and program compliance in underserved areas.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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

HB 4951: Requiring MDs and DOs to complete continuing education

This bill requires physicians and osteopathic doctors in West Virginia to complete continuing education credits specifically in nutrition as part of their biennial license renewal process. The law mandates that medical professionals earn a minimum of fifty hours of continuing medical education every two years, with osteopathic physicians required to complete thirty-two hours including nutrition training, and these credits must be approved by relevant medical boards. The bill amends existing state code sections to make nutrition education a mandatory component of the continuing education requirement for license renewal.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates nutrition education for physicians, aiming to improve patient health outcomes through better-informed medical professionals.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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

HB 4610: Safeguard the Right-To-Try Cutting-Edge Medicine Act

HB 4610 allows terminally ill patients in West Virginia to access experimental, individually tailored medical treatments (like gene therapies) when standard FDA-approved options have been exhausted. It defines "eligible patients" as those with life-threatening illnesses who have consulted a physician, considered all approved treatments, and provided written consent detailing treatment risks and alternatives. Key provisions require healthcare providers to document patient eligibility, obtain specific informed consent covering potential outcomes, and prohibit debt collection from estates if a patient dies during treatment. The bill also protects healthcare providers from sanctions for offering these treatments and clarifies that it does not affect health insurers' obligations to cover clinical trial participation.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands patient access to experimental treatments for terminally ill patients when standard options fail, aligning with 'improves patient access' and 'protects patient rights' indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Jun 26, 2026

HB 5277: Supplemental Appropriation to the Department of Health Facilities-Welch Community Hospital, William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital, and Mildred Mitchell-Bateman Hospital from the Unappropriated Surplus Balance

HB 5277 is a funding bill that allocates $1 million to Welch Community Hospital, $3.4 million to William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital, and $4.3 million to Mildred Mitchell-Bateman Hospital from West Virginia's unappropriated surplus balance. These funds are designated specifically for capital improvements, repairs, and equipment at each hospital during fiscal year 2026. The bill supplements existing appropriations by adding these new funding lines to the hospitals' respective budgets. It directly affects the three named hospitals by providing additional resources for facility maintenance and infrastructure. The bill does not create new policies or programs but reallocates existing surplus funds for capital purposes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $8.7M from unappropriated surplus for hospital capital improvements, directly increasing public service funding without tax changes.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates $8.7M for hospital capital improvements and repairs, directly funding healthcare infrastructure to maintain services at three public hospitals.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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 | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 844: Supplemental Appropriation to Department of Human Services, fund 8722

SB 844 is a supplemental funding bill that allocates additional federal funds to the West Virginia Department of Human Services for medical services. It increases existing appropriations for "Medical Services" (by $1.373 billion) and "Medical Services Administrative Costs" (by $37 million) under Fund 8722 for fiscal year 2026. This funding uses unspent federal moneys designated for the state's medical programs, directly supporting the department's operations for healthcare services. The bill does not create new programs but adjusts how existing federal funds are applied to current medical service expenditures.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $1.373B for medical services funding, increasing state budget appropriations for public healthcare services using federal funds.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $1.373B for medical services and $37M for admin costs under DHS, directly increasing healthcare funding for state medical programs using federal funds.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 831: Supplemental Appropriation to Department of Human Services, fund 8794

This bill (SB 831) reallocates $200,000 within an existing budget line for West Virginia's Department of Human Services Community Mental Health Services (Fund 8794). It decreases funding from the "Federal Coronavirus Pandemic" account and increases funding for "Personal Services and Employee Benefits" to cover staffing costs. The bill does not create new programs or change eligibility for services - it simply shifts existing federal funds between two internal budget categories. This adjustment affects how the Department of Human Services allocates resources for mental health services within its current fiscal year budget.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareReallocates $200k from pandemic funds to staff benefits, maintaining mental health services funding without cuts or program changes.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentReallocates funds to 'Personal Services and Employee Benefits' to cover staffing costs, directly supporting workforce compensation within the Department of Human Services.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 819: Supplemental appropriation to Department Health Facilities, fund 0413

SB 819 redirects $4,906,630 from an unappropriated surplus balance in West Virginia's General Revenue Fund to William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital (fund 0413) for fiscal year 2026. The bill supplements the hospital's existing appropriation by adding a new line item for "Current Expenses - Surplus" to cover operational costs. This procedural budget adjustment directly affects the hospital's funding for the 2026 fiscal year without changing health care policies or creating new obligations. The funds were identified in the Governor's Executive Budget Document as available surplus.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects $4.9M surplus to hospital operations, increasing public service funding via budget reallocation without tax changes.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill redirects $4.9M surplus to fund William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital operations, increasing direct healthcare funding without policy changes.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 828: Supplemental Appropriation to Department of Human Services, fund 5090

SB 828 is a procedural bill that allocates unspent funds from the Department of Human Services' Medicaid State Share Fund (Fund 5090) for fiscal year 2026. It directs $174,483,090 already designated for "Medical Services" to cover ongoing Medicaid provider payments, using money remaining unappropriated after the fiscal year began. This bill does not create new policy or change eligibility - it simply ensures existing unspent Medicaid funds are used for medical services as intended. It directly affects Medicaid providers in West Virginia by securing payment for covered services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDirects unspent Medicaid funds to cover ongoing medical provider payments, maintaining current healthcare funding without defunding services.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 742: Modifying requirements for involuntary hospitalization

SB 742 modifies West Virginia's involuntary hospitalization process by allowing an authorized hospital physician to place a person under a 72-hour hold without first contacting specific officials (like mental hygiene commissioners). It removes the previous 24-hour deadline for filing a formal petition to extend the hold, instead requiring this petition to be filed within 72 hours. The bill also ensures hospitals and physicians are paid standard rates for these services and are protected from liability when acting in good faith. This directly affects individuals facing involuntary hospitalization for mental illness or addiction and the healthcare providers managing their care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStreamlines involuntary mental health hospitalization process, improving timely care access and ensuring provider payment/protection for services.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare