Healthcare

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 9, 2026

HB 5349: Requiring the Public Employees Agency and other health insurance providers to provide mental health parity

HB 5349 requires West Virginia's Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) and other health insurers to provide mental health, behavioral health, and substance use disorder coverage that is equally comprehensive as coverage for physical health conditions. It mandates specific protections, including annual screenings for depression and substance use, fair access to providers (like coverage for non-participating providers when needed), and clear denial notices explaining parity rights. The bill directly affects public employees covered by PEIA and all health insurance providers operating in West Virginia under state regulations. It also requires annual reporting on compliance and sets an effective date of June 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates equal mental health coverage parity with physical health, expanding access and protecting patient rights per bill's requirements for insurers and PEIA.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Mental Health Substance Abuse

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

HB 5430: Relating to pharmaceutical benefits

HB 5430 regulates pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) for West Virginia's Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA), directly affecting state employees covered by PEIA, PBMs, and pharmacies providing services to them. The bill requires PBMs to submit detailed quarterly reports on claim payments, including costs charged to PEIA versus amounts paid to pharmacies, and prohibits certain PBM contracts that limit transparency. It also mandates PBMs to implement a cost containment tool and requires a study on pharmacy pricing. The law aims to increase transparency in pharmacy billing and control costs for state health insurance programs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRegulates PBMs for state employee health plan (PEIA) with transparency requirements and cost containment, improving pharmaceutical benefits system and protecting insureds' interests.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Prescription Drugs

passed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Mar 5, 2026

HB 5563: To create the West Virginia Timely Transplant Referral and Coordination Act

HB 5563 requires licensed healthcare providers in West Virginia to refer patients meeting organ transplant criteria to a transplant center within three calendar days of documenting that need in the medical record. It exempts referrals only when a specific medical contraindication is documented. The Department of Health must collect and report annual data on referral timelines, including average wait times, compliance rates, and rural disparities. This law directly affects hospitals, transplant centers, and patients awaiting organ transplants by standardizing referral processes. The bill does not alter federal organ allocation policies or clinical eligibility standards.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates 3-day transplant referrals, reduces wait times, addresses rural disparities - directly improves patient access to critical care services.95% confidence

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 4, 2026

HB 5185: Increasing access to contraceptive drugs, devices, and procedures

HB 5185 requires most health insurance plans in West Virginia to cover contraceptive drugs, devices, and related services without cost-sharing (like copays or deductibles) for enrollees. It mandates coverage for all FDA-approved contraceptives (including therapeutic equivalents), up to a 12-month supply at once, and includes sterilization procedures, counseling, and follow-up care. The law applies to plans renewed or delivered on or after January 1, 2027, and does not affect coverage for contraceptives prescribed for non-contraceptive medical reasons (e.g., treating ovarian cancer). This bill directly affects health insurance plans and their enrollees, excluding dependent children from the definition of "covered person."

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for contraceptives without cost-sharing, expanding access to reproductive healthcare services per FDA-approved standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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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

Sub-Topics Appropriations Revenue State Budget Hospitals

in committee · West Virginia · Senate Feb 6, 2026

SB 810: Relating to lung cancer prevention and education

SB 810 establishes a Lung Cancer Prevention and Education Program within West Virginia's Bureau for Public Health to target underserved communities lacking access to screening. The bill provides grants to qualified organizations (like hospitals or clinics) to offer low-dose CT scans for early lung cancer detection, along with education and referral services. Eligible applicants must meet specific standards for quality screening, collaboration with healthcare providers, and outreach to underserved populations. The program requires annual reporting on services provided and outcomes, and it uses funding from the state's Rainy Day Fund to cover screening costs for qualifying residents.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill provides grants for low-dose CT scans and education in underserved communities, expanding access to early lung cancer detection through public health funding.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 5546: Requiring medical professionals to report injuries and side effects from vaccines to Bureau for Public Health

HB 5546 requires medical professionals in West Virginia to report all vaccine-related injuries and side effects to the Bureau for Public Health. It also mandates that these professionals receive annual educational materials about vaccine side effects and complete formal training every five years. The bill further requires the Bureau to produce an annual report for the Legislature and create a public mechanism for individuals, including parents, to report vaccine-related adverse effects. These provisions aim to improve data collection on vaccine safety without advocating for or against vaccination.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates vaccine injury reporting, annual education, and public reporting to strengthen vaccine safety monitoring under public health programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 5664: To create the West Virginia Cares Fund

HB 5664 proposes creating the West Virginia Cares Fund, a state-run long-term care insurance program funded through payroll deductions for eligible state employees. It would provide a daily benefit of $100 for 365 days annually to cover approved services like in-home care, community-based support, and skilled nursing facility care. The bill aims to address the lack of affordable long-term care insurance, which leaves over 90% of seniors uninsured, by offering coverage through employee payroll premiums instead of out-of-pocket costs. This would allow beneficiaries to choose care settings (home, community, or facility) while maintaining current service options and seamless transitions from existing funding sources. The bill is currently in committee referral after its February 2026 introduction.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates state-run long-term care insurance fund with payroll funding, expanding coverage for seniors lacking affordable options (90% uninsured), directly advancing healthcare access through new insurance program.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates state-funded long-term care insurance benefit for state employees, expanding worker benefits through payroll deductions for covered services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 5650: To allow for the practice of naturopathic medicine in this state.

HB 5650 would permit naturopathic medicine practice in West Virginia by adding it to the state's medical practice laws. It defines naturopathic medicine as a healthcare approach blending modern science with natural therapies and specifies that practitioners must follow all existing medical licensing, training, and Board of Medicine oversight requirements. The bill does not create new regulations but allows naturopathic practitioners to operate under the current medical practice framework. This would directly affect licensed naturopaths seeking to practice in West Virginia, subject to the same standards as other healthcare providers. The bill is currently pending in the House Health and Human Resources Committee (introduced February 17, 2026).

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows naturopathic medicine practice under existing medical framework, expanding healthcare service options and patient access without new regulations.95% confidence

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passed · West Virginia · Senate Mar 11, 2026

SB 805: Relating to abortion pill reversal

SB 805 adds "abortion pill reversal" to West Virginia's Mothers and Babies Pregnancy Support Program, allowing funding for this service through eligible pregnancy help organizations. The bill defines "abortion pill reversal" as using progesterone to counteract the abortion pill (mifepristone) and specifies that only organizations that do not support or perform abortions can receive program funds for this purpose. Abortion industry organizations are explicitly excluded from receiving these funds. This is a procedural change to the existing program's funding eligibility, not a new law restricting abortion access.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAdds funding for abortion pill reversal service within public pregnancy support program, expanding healthcare access to a specific medical intervention under Human Services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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