Healthcare

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 3, 2026

HB 5131: Establish food desert produce pilot program

HB 5131 establishes a two-year pilot program through the West Virginia Department of Agriculture to improve access to fresh, affordable produce in food desert communities - defined as areas lacking nutritious food options. The program requires selecting partnering providers to operate weekly markets in three designated food desert communities (including one rural area), with providers obligated to accept multiple payment methods, offer discounted produce packages, and donate surplus to food banks. It directly affects residents in these communities who struggle to access fresh food, while requiring providers to demonstrate reliable supply and include storage/recipe guides. The Department must submit a legislative report within two years detailing participating communities, families served, voucher usage, and recommendations for expanding the program statewide.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareImproves access to nutritious food in underserved areas, addressing public health concerns linked to food deserts through a targeted pilot program.85% confidence

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signed · West Virginia · Senate Jun 25, 2026

SB 848: Supplemental Appropriation to Department of Homeland Security, fund 0450

SB 848 is a supplemental appropriation bill that allocates $84,600 from an unappropriated surplus balance in the State Fund, General Revenue, to cover inmate medical expenses for the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation under the Department of Homeland Security during fiscal year 2026. This funding specifically targets Correctional Units within the Division and uses existing surplus funds identified in the Governor’s budget document. The bill does not create new programs or alter policies but directs available resources to address medical costs for inmates. It is a routine budget adjustment, not a policy change, to ensure necessary healthcare funding for correctional facilities.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds inmate medical expenses in corrections, directly supporting the corrections aspect of criminal justice.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds inmate medical expenses in corrections through targeted appropriation, directly supporting healthcare access for incarcerated individuals within public health programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 11, 2026

HB 5440: Allowing healthcare workers to refuse to perform procedures related to sex reassignment or gender identity transitioning for religious or conscientious objection

HB 5440 would allow healthcare workers - including doctors, nurses, therapists, and pharmacists - to refuse to perform or assist with medical procedures related to gender transition (such as hormone therapy or surgeries) based on religious or moral objections. It protects these providers from workplace discrimination, retaliation, or penalties for such refusals. The bill defines "healthcare provider" broadly to cover all medical staff and institutions, and specifies that refusal to provide gender transition-related care cannot be considered discrimination if based on conscience. The law aims to shield healthcare professionals from being forced to participate in procedures conflicting with their beliefs. This bill is currently in the introduction stage, referred to the Health and Human Resources committee.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill restricts patient access to gender transition care by enabling healthcare workers to refuse services based on religious objections, directly limiting healthcare access for transgender patients.95% confidence

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passed · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 5096: Relating to removing services from requiring a certificate of need

HB 5096 removes the requirement for state approval (a "certificate of need") for two specific healthcare services in West Virginia: personal care services and intellectual developmental disabilities (IDD) services. This means healthcare providers offering these services no longer need prior state permission before expanding or establishing them. The bill amends existing law (§16-2D-10) to explicitly exempt these services from the certificate of need process, which previously applied to many healthcare expansions and facility changes. This change directly affects providers of personal care (like assistance with daily living activities) and IDD services (such as support for individuals with developmental disabilities), streamlining their ability to operate without state review.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves certificate of need barriers for personal care/IDD services, easing provider expansion and improving access to healthcare services without restricting coverage or funding.95% confidence

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 3, 2026

HB 5141: Requiring medical insurance providers to include infertility services in their policies

HB 5141 requires all health insurance providers in West Virginia to cover infertility services, directly affecting residents diagnosed with infertility or facing fertility risks from medical treatments like chemotherapy. The bill mandates coverage for diagnosis, medically necessary fertility treatments (including IVF for cases requiring it), and fertility preservation services (like egg/sperm freezing) before procedures known to impair fertility. Insurers must provide these services without prohibited limitations, covering evaluations, medications, donor materials, and storage of preserved reproductive material. This applies to all group health insurance policies and aligns with medical standards for "medically necessary" care, as defined in the bill.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurers to cover infertility services, expanding patient access to fertility treatments and preservation, directly strengthening health coverage under healthcare policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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

HB 5672: Relating to collecting a tax from all manufacturers and distributors of opioid drugs

HB 5672 imposes an annual excise tax on opioid manufacturers and distributors selling Schedule II drugs to West Virginia pharmacies. The tax equals one cent per 100 pills multiplied by the previous year's state opioid overdose death count (as reported by the Department of Health). Pharmacies collect this tax from manufacturers/distributors (not patients) and remit it to the Ryan Brown Addiction Prevention and Recovery Fund. This revenue directly funds state addiction prevention and recovery programs. The tax rate adjusts yearly based on updated overdose statistics.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes tax on opioid manufacturers to fund addiction prevention/recovery programs, directly increasing state budget allocation for essential services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDirectly funds addiction prevention/recovery programs via opioid manufacturer tax, advancing public health initiatives as specified in bill's purpose.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Substance Abuse

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in committee · West Virginia · House of Delegates Feb 3, 2026

HB 5082: Related to menstrual products in correctional facilities

HB 5082 requires West Virginia correctional facilities, regional jails, and juvenile detention centers to provide free feminine hygiene products (tampons and sanitary napkins) to female inmates and female juveniles upon request, with delivery within eight hours. The bill amends existing laws to explicitly mandate this provision, ensuring no cost to individuals who menstruate while incarcerated. This policy change applies directly to all female individuals in state custody who require these products, addressing a basic health need without financial burden.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates free menstrual products in correctional facilities, advancing humane treatment and aligning with criminal justice reform goals of dignity and basic needs for incarcerated women.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates free menstrual products in correctional facilities, ensuring access to essential health hygiene for incarcerated women, directly improving health access and public health outcomes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Juvenile Justice

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

HB 5559: To facilitate interstate practice of Regulated Social Workers by improving public access to competent Social Work Services.

HB 5559 creates West Virginia's participation in the Social Work Licensure Compact, enabling licensed social workers to practice across multiple participating states using a single "multistate license" instead of obtaining separate licenses in each state. It directly affects licensed social workers seeking to practice in more than one member state, as well as clients needing consistent access to social work services. The key provision establishes standardized requirements for multistate licensure, including background checks, and creates a commission to manage the compact's operations and resolve disputes between states. This eliminates barriers for social workers moving between states while ensuring public access to qualified professionals under a unified licensing system.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill improves access to social work services (a healthcare profession) via multistate licensure, directly advancing patient access to mental health/social services per topic definition.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Tags Licensing

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

HB 5102: Relating to coverage for the treatment of stuttering

HB 5102 requires all health insurance plans in West Virginia to cover habilitative speech therapy for stuttering, effective July 1, 2026. It mandates that plans cover this treatment without annual visit limits, restrictions based on stuttering's cause (like developmental vs. acquired), or prior authorization requirements. The bill also requires coverage for both in-person and telehealth speech therapy services. This affects all health insurance policies sold in West Virginia that cover speech therapy, including employer-sponsored and individual plans.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for stuttering therapy without restrictions, expanding access to speech therapy services per bill requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Telehealth

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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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