The proposed bill introduces the West Virginia Timely Transplant Referral Coordination Act, which establishes new requirements for healthcare providers regarding organ transplant referrals. Specifically, it mandates that licensed healthcare providers must refer patients who meet the medical criteria for organ transplant candidacy to an appropriate transplant center within three calendar days of documenting this eligibility in the patient's medical record. However, this referral requirement is exempted if the provider notes a specific medical contraindication in the patient's record. The bill clarifies that it does not alter existing clinical eligibility standards set by transplant centers or federal organ allocation policies.

Additionally, the bill outlines provisions for data collection and reporting. The Department of Health is tasked with collecting and aggregating de-identified data from licensed hospitals about transplant referrals initiated under this act. The data must include metrics such as the average time from documentation to referral initiation, the number of patients meeting referral thresholds, the number of timely referrals, and geographic data to assess rural disparities. An annual report summarizing this data must be submitted to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability by December 1 each year.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 16-67-1, 16-67-2, 16-67-3, 16-67-4
Committee Substitute: 16-67-1, 16-67-2
Engrossed Committee Substitute: 16-67-1, 16-67-2