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Committee advances a package of health‑related House bills, including peer‑support protections and program modernizations
Summary
The committee reported several House bills to the full Senate: HB5086 on caregiver peer support (committee amendment adopted), HB4695 altering PEIA prior‑authorization for alternative treatments (estimated $13M annual cost), HB5582 (respiratory care compact with background‑check language amended), and HB5466 renaming batterer intervention programs and permitting live synchronous virtual delivery.
A West Virginia Senate committee reported multiple health‑related House bills to the full Senate at a single session, adopting a range of committee amendments and technical changes.
House Bill 5086: Committee counsel summarized HB 5086, which defines 'covered caregiver' broadly and creates a peer‑support testimonial privilege for communications within employer‑established peer support teams. The committee adopted an amendment to allow a board to require a licensee to participate in a board‑designated Professional Health Program (PHP) rather than treating all mental‑health or substance‑use treatment participation as entirely privileged. The amendment was moved by the vice chair and adopted by voice vote; the committee then reported HB 5086 as amended to the full Senate.
House Bill 4695: Counsel said HB 4695 would permit a patient authorized for treatment through the Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) to receive an alternative medically appropriate covered treatment without additional prior authorization provided the alternative does not exceed the original cost; counsel cited an estimated annual PEIA cost increase of about $13,000,000. The committee voted to report the bill to the full Senate with recommendation to pass.
Respiratory Care Compact (HB 5582 / related bill number referenced): Counsel described an interstate compact to allow respiratory‑care license portability across states. A committee amendment removed language requiring a criminal background check at the time of initial licensure to avoid conflict with compact language; counsel explained the compact still requires background checks but the timing language was being struck. The amendment was adopted and the bill reported as amended.
House Bill 5466: Counsel explained a renaming of the "batterer intervention program" to an "abuse intervention program" and authorized delivery via live synchronous virtual platforms while requiring an in‑person option; sponsor Delegate Tristan Levitt said expanding virtual access will let more people statewide benefit from the program. The committee reported the bill with recommendation to pass.
Several of the measures were reported by voice vote; the committee noted effective dates of 90 days for enacted measures unless otherwise stated. The committee adjourned after finishing its agenda.
