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.
SB 990 establishes the West Virginia ALS Care Services Act to provide targeted support for residents living with ALS and their caregivers. The bill requires the Department of Human Services to fund three key programs: (1) care coordination and support services to help navigate medical systems, (2) loans for reusable ramps and essential medical equipment (like mobility aids), and (3) access to specialized multidisciplinary ALS clinics. These provisions aim to help individuals remain safely in their homes longer, reducing reliance on costly hospital visits and institutional care. The program directly affects West Virginia residents diagnosed with ALS and their primary caregivers by addressing critical financial and medical barriers.
HB 5370, "Caitlyn's Law," would require a mandatory 24-hour hospital hold for individuals suspected of having a substance use disorder (as defined by the DSM) who are deemed at risk of causing serious harm to themselves or others due to their addiction. This applies when someone lacks judgment about needing treatment due to substance impairment, but excludes cases based solely on dementia, epilepsy, or intellectual disabilities. The bill mandates evaluation by a mental hygiene commissioner or licensed professional within that 24-hour period to determine if further involuntary treatment is needed. It directly affects individuals in West Virginia with suspected substance use disorders who meet specific risk criteria. The bill is currently in committee referral following its introduction on February 9, 2026.
SB 876 allocates supplemental funds from West Virginia's unappropriated surplus to three state hospitals: $1 million for Welch Community Hospital, $3.4 million for William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital, and $4.3 million for Mildred Mitchell-Bateman Hospital. The funds are designated specifically for capital improvements, repairs, and equipment at these facilities during the 2026 fiscal year. This appropriation directly affects the operational capacity of these three hospitals by providing resources for infrastructure maintenance. As a procedural supplemental bill, it reallocates existing surplus funds without creating new policy or affecting broader populations.
HB 5266 requires West Virginia Medicaid managed care organizations to contract with any qualified hospital, doctor, behavioral health provider, or other provider who meets all licensing, Medicaid enrollment, and credentialing requirements. It mandates that these providers must be offered the same reimbursement rates and contract terms as comparable providers already in the network. The bill applies directly to Medicaid managed care organizations and providers seeking to join their networks, ensuring they cannot exclude qualified providers based on arbitrary criteria. This would create a more open system for providers to participate in West Virginia's Medicaid program.
SB 946 prohibits most health care providers from charging facility fees for outpatient services, except for services on a hospital campus, at facilities with licensed emergency departments, or for emergency care at freestanding emergency facilities. It specifically bans facility fees for outpatient evaluation services and certain diagnostic/imaging services identified annually by the West Virginia Insurance Commission. The bill requires hospitals, health systems, and freestanding emergency facilities to submit detailed annual reports to the Commission - including revenue data, patient visits, and top procedures - published publicly online. These reports aim to increase transparency about facility fee practices, with the Commission authorized to create rules and impose fines for noncompliance. The law directly affects hospitals, health systems, and freestanding emergency facilities that previously charged these fees.
HB 5333 allows patients in West Virginia hospitals to refuse having medical residents or medical students observe or perform their medical care. The bill requires hospitals to create and implement clear policies informing patients of this right before procedures. It directly affects all patients receiving care in participating hospitals, ensuring they can make decisions about who participates in their treatment. The law changes hospital procedures by mandating patient notification, not altering medical standards or care delivery.
HB 5547 requires healthcare providers to obtain specific written consent from parents before conducting newborn genetic screening, which cannot be fulfilled by general consent forms signed at hospital admission. It limits blood collection to only what's necessary for screening and mandates destruction of blood samples after three weeks unless parents give additional written consent for retention. The bill also prohibits using newborn blood samples for research, law enforcement, or other purposes without separate consent from parents or the adult who was a minor when the sample was taken. Healthcare facilities must provide written information about screening options and the right to opt out during pregnancy.
HB 5297 adds $4,906,630 in funding from the state's unappropriated surplus balance to William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital for current operating expenses during fiscal year 2026. This supplemental appropriation directly affects the hospital's budget by redirecting unused state funds that were identified in the Governor's 2026 budget document. The bill does not create new policies or alter existing laws - it simply allocates existing surplus revenue to cover the hospital's operational costs. This is a routine budget adjustment, not a policy change, and it specifically targets the hospital's designated fund (0413) for the 2026 fiscal year.
HB 5343 establishes a three-year medical adult day care pilot program in Fayette County for older adults and adults with disabilities who need daytime medical supervision but don’t qualify for nursing home care. The program, funded with $750,000-$1.25 million, provides licensed medical oversight, health monitoring, therapeutic activities, and daily support during weekday hours at a community facility. It targets individuals with chronic conditions, cognitive impairments, or those at risk of needing long-term care, aiming to reduce hospital visits, ease caregiver burden, and delay nursing home placement. If successful, the program could expand statewide after evaluation of outcomes like health stability and cost-effectiveness.
