This bill proposes the termination of the West Virginia Health Care Authority and its associated certificate of need (CON) program, with significant amendments to the West Virginia Code. Key provisions include the repeal of multiple sections related to the authority's operations, including the cooperative agreement review process, and the transfer of the authority's remaining powers, assets, records, and employees to the Secretary of the Department of Health. Notably, effective January 1, 2027, health care facilities will no longer be required to obtain a certificate of need to operate in the state, which aims to reduce regulatory burdens and streamline health care service approvals.

Additionally, the bill introduces new responsibilities for the Secretary of the Department of Health, including the establishment of minimum requirements for health information systems and the development of a comprehensive system for collecting ambulatory health care data. The Secretary will also oversee the review of cooperative agreements among health care providers, which will be exempt from state and federal antitrust laws if approved before the termination date. The bill emphasizes the need for regulatory oversight while enhancing collaboration among health care providers, ultimately aiming to improve access to health services in West Virginia.

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