The bill amends section 16-29B-28 of the Code of West Virginia to enhance the regulation of cooperative agreements among hospitals and healthcare providers. It updates key definitions by removing terms such as "qualified hospital," "academic medical center," and "teaching hospital," while introducing new definitions for "hospital" and "person." The bill emphasizes the role of cooperative agreements in improving medical education and healthcare access, while also safeguarding against anti-competitive practices. The Health Care Authority is empowered to review, approve, or deny these agreements based on their potential benefits and disadvantages, and it is tasked with ensuring compliance through monitoring and the imposition of conditions on approved agreements.

Additionally, the bill establishes procedures for public notification and comment periods regarding cooperative agreements, along with standards for evaluating their impact on competition. It mandates that hospitals involved in cooperative agreements submit proposed rate increases and reimbursement agreements to the West Virginia Attorney General for evaluation. A notable provision requires hospitals that have merged or acquired another hospital since January 1, 2017, to file a cooperative agreement by January 1, 2026, to mitigate antitrust risks. Overall, the bill aims to strengthen oversight of hospital cooperative agreements while ensuring consumer protection in healthcare pricing.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 26-12-1, 26-12-2, 26-12-3, 26-12-4, 26-12-5, 26-12-6, 26-12-7, 26-12-8, 26-12-9, 26-12-10, 26-12-11, 26-12-12
Committee Substitute: 16-29B-28