West Virginia House Bill HB2244

West Virginia 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/12/25
• Refer: 2/12/25

Caption

Relating to authorizing the Department of Health to promulgate a legislative rule relating to the Primary Care Support Program

Summary

HB2244 is a rule-authorization bill that would approve a legislative rule for the West Virginia Department of Health governing the Primary Care Support Program. The bill does not itself create a new program or substantially rewrite substantive health policy; instead, it gives statutory authorization for the Department of Health to proceed with the rule filed in the State Register on August 27, 2024, under authority already provided in state law. In practical terms, the measure amends and reenacts the section of code that lists legislative rules authorized for agency implementation. By approving the Primary Care Support Program rule, the Legislature would allow the Department of Health to administer and regulate the program under the cited administrative rule, 64 CSR 70. The bill’s effect is therefore to validate and enable agency rulemaking rather than to directly change benefits, eligibility, or provider requirements in the text of the statute itself.

Impact

The bill would update West Virginia Code §64-5-1 to authorize a Department of Health legislative rule concerning the Primary Care Support Program. Its main legal effect is to give the agency’s rule formal legislative approval, which is required for certain state administrative rules to take effect or remain in force. The affected parties are the Department of Health, primary care providers, and any entities or individuals participating in or relying on the Primary Care Support Program.

Sentiment

Based on the available record, there is no evidence of controversy, opposition, or recorded debate. The bill appears to be a routine administrative rule-authorization measure, which typically receives neutral or procedural consideration rather than substantive policy debate. Because there are no committee transcripts or votes provided, the overall sentiment can only be characterized as limited and likely procedural support, with no documented dissent in the materials supplied.

Contention

No specific points of contention are identified in the provided materials. The bill text is narrowly focused on authorizing a Department of Health rule, and there are no recorded committee remarks, amendments, or votes showing disagreement. If any concern were to arise, it would likely relate to the details of the underlying Primary Care Support Program rule rather than the authorization bill itself, but that is not reflected in the available record.