This bill proposes the termination of the West Virginia Health Care Authority and its associated Certificate of Need (CON) program, with the program officially ending on January 1, 2026. Key provisions include the repeal of multiple sections related to the authority's operations, including the cooperative agreement review process, and the establishment that no health care facility will be required to obtain a certificate of need to operate in the state. The bill also mandates the transfer of the authority's remaining powers, assets, records, and employees to the Secretary of the Department of Health, along with the transfer of any remaining funds in the CON Program Fund to the general revenue fund.

Additionally, the bill introduces a summary review process for entities proposing additional health care services, which will be conducted by the Secretary to ensure compliance with federal Medicaid requirements. The Secretary is tasked with revising the state mental health plan and appointing an advisory committee to assist in this process. The bill emphasizes the importance of cooperative agreements among hospitals and health care providers, abolishing the review process for such agreements effective January 1, 2026, while ensuring that previously approved agreements remain exempt from antitrust laws. Overall, the bill aims to streamline health care service approvals and enhance access to health services by reducing bureaucratic barriers.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 9-5-19, 16-2D-1, 16-2D-2, 16-2D-4, 16-2D-5, 16-2D-16a, 16-29B-1, 16-29B-3, 16-29B-8, 16-29B-25, 16-29B-26, 16-29B-28, 33-15B-5, 51-11-4, 16-2D-3, 16-2D-6, 16-2D-7, 16-2D-8, 16-2D-9, 16-2D-10, 16-2D-11, 16-2D-12, 16-2D-13, 16-2D-14, 16-2D-15, 16-2D-16, 16-2D-17, 16-2D-18, 16-2D-19, 16-2D-20, 16-29A-20, 16-29B-2, 16-29B-5, 16-29B-5a, 16-29B-12, 16-29B-13, 16-29B-14, 16-29B-15, 16-29B-24, 16-29B-30, 16-29B-31, 16B-13-12, 16B-21-3, 49-2-124