The bill introduced on March 5, 2025, aims to amend the Code of West Virginia by adding a new section, 16-5C-2, which focuses on enhancing the transparency of nursing home operations. It includes legislative findings that highlight the importance of public access to information about health care facilities, particularly during emergencies. The findings emphasize that the Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification (OHFLAC) currently maintains an online Health Care Facility Lookup page that provides essential details about nursing homes, including their contact information.

To improve this resource, the bill mandates that the Department of Health include the names of medical directors for each nursing home on the Health Care Facility Lookup page. This addition is intended to ensure that citizens have access to vital contact information for nursing home medical directors, especially during pandemics or large-scale emergencies, thereby enhancing public safety and accountability within the healthcare system.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 16-5C-2