The proposed bill aims to establish the "Michael Brandon Cochran Act," which introduces new regulations regarding medical testing for patients in intensive care units (ICUs) in West Virginia. It mandates that hospitals administer a C-peptide or connecting peptide insulin test to any ICU patient who is unconscious or has hypoglycemia with a blood glucose level of 49 mg/dl or lower, regardless of their diabetes status. Additionally, if a patient dies after exhibiting symptoms such as suspected brain damage or seizures, a post-mortem C-peptide test is required. The bill also imposes a monetary penalty of $10,000 for hospitals that fail to comply with these testing requirements.

Furthermore, the bill establishes the Michael Brandon Cochran Grant Program, which will be managed by the Department of Health Facilities. This program allows hospitals to apply for funding to cover costs associated with administering the required C-peptide tests and training staff on hypoglycemia symptoms. A special revenue fund, the Michael Brandon Cochran Fund, will be created to support this grant program, consisting of various sources of funding, including private donations. The bill ensures that any unspent funds at the end of the fiscal year will remain available for the program's intended purposes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 16-4G-1, 16-4G-2, 16-4G-3, 16-4G-4, 16-4G-5