The bill amends section 16-29B-28 of the Code of West Virginia to enhance the framework for cooperative agreements among hospitals and healthcare providers. It updates key definitions by removing terms such as "qualified hospital" and "teaching hospital," while introducing new definitions for "hospital" and "person." The legislation emphasizes the role of cooperative agreements in improving medical education and healthcare access, allowing hospitals to negotiate resource-sharing agreements. The Health Care Authority is empowered to review, approve, or deny these agreements, ensuring they align with regulatory standards and benefit the state's citizens.

Additionally, the bill outlines procedures for reviewing cooperative agreements, including public notification and comment periods, and establishes standards for evaluating the potential benefits and disadvantages of proposed agreements. It grants the authority the power to enforce compliance with approved agreements and to investigate violations. A notable requirement is that hospitals that have merged or consolidated since January 1, 2017, must file a cooperative agreement by January 1, 2026, to mitigate antitrust risks. The bill also mandates the submission of proposed rate increases to the West Virginia Attorney General for review, ensuring consumer access to healthcare is not compromised. Overall, the legislation aims to foster collaboration among healthcare providers while maintaining oversight to protect public interests.

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