West Virginia An Overview of West Virginia Health Election Policy Issues Update . Federal Races
. Senate – Manchin vs. Morrisey
Key Races . Congressional District #2 – Mooney vs. Sergent
. Congressional District #3 – Miller vs. Ojeda . WV Supreme Court
. Division #1 . Former House Speaker Tim Armstead is on the ballot for this seat. Key Races . Division #2 . Congressman Evan Jenkins, Former Senate President Jeff Kessler . WV Senate
. Senate District 17 – Tom Takubo vs. Terrell Ellis . Risk of Health Chair reassignment
. Senate District 1 – Ryan Ferns vs. William Key Races Ihlenfeld. . Senate District 4 - Eric Tarr vs. Brian Prim
. Senate District 16 – John Unger vs. Michael Folk . WV House
. House Speaker Changes Lead to New Committee Leadership Key Races . House District Health Policy Issues . Prior Authorization
. Opioid Prescribing
. Immunizations Potential Policy Changes . Certificate of Need
. Restrictions on Medicaid
. Medicine Board Combination
. In 2018, Governor Justice vetoed Senate bill 442
. Legislative interim committees have recommended a fix Prior to the governor’s stated concerns. Authorization . Draft BMS HMO contracts contain language that was in the bill. . In 2018, the WV Legislature passed SB 273 modifying prescribing habits for opioids.
Opioid . Confusion on days of prescribing.
Prescribing . Suboxone
. In September 2018, the Joint Committee on Children and Families suggested legislation to modify the current law.
. The committee will propose a bill removing the immunization officer position and process for medical exemptions.
Immunizations . The new bill will propose that individual physicians should decide medical exemptions for vaccines.
. Likely will be amended to include religious exemptions.
. Senate leadership make-up could determine the outcome of CON.
Certificate of . Ferns is supportive of the elimination of Certificate of Need Need.
. WV House Race
. In 2018, the WV Legislature passed a bill to require low- income individuals to be drug-tested if they are receiving state funds. Medcaid Eligibility . Co-pays
. In 2018, an agreed-to bill was proposed to combine the Board of Medicine and the Osteopathic Board of Medicine.
. The proposed legislation would have required APRNs to Board be under this board. Combination . Senator Takubo lead on the issue in 2018.
Engagement The importance of being involved in policy
. Your voice needs to be heard.
. Legislators need to hear from constituents.
Why Be . They are not the experts. Involved? . Other competing voices or opposition.
. Over 1/3 of the WV House will be new members this term.
. Call and engage with the new members.
. Education is key. Meet New Members . Become their expert resource.
Questions??? . Tom Susman – President, TSG . [email protected]
Contact us . Rachel Coffman – Vice President, TSG . [email protected]