West Virginia House Bill HB2250

West Virginia 2025 Regular Session

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

Caption

Authorizing the Department of Health to promulgate a legislative rule relating to critical access hospitals

Summary

HB2250 is a rule-authorization bill that would approve a legislative rule for the West Virginia Department of Health concerning critical access hospitals. The bill does not itself create a new hospital program or change substantive health policy; instead, it gives legislative approval to an existing or proposed administrative rule filed in the State Register on December 5, 2023, under authority granted by state law. In practical terms, the bill would allow the Department of Health to move forward with regulations governing critical access hospitals under 65 CSR 09. Critical access hospitals are typically small, rural facilities that rely on special federal and state regulatory treatment to remain financially viable and maintain access to care in underserved areas. By authorizing the rule, the Legislature would be affirming the department’s ability to administer and enforce those standards.

Impact

If enacted, HB2250 would amend West Virginia Code §64-5-1 to authorize the Department of Health’s legislative rule on critical access hospitals. The bill affects administrative rulemaking rather than directly changing hospital licensing statutes, but it would give legal effect to the rule and make it enforceable as part of the state’s regulatory framework for rural hospitals and related health facilities.

Sentiment

The available record shows little overt controversy or debate around HB2250. There are no committee transcripts or recorded votes included, and the bill’s narrow purpose suggests it is a routine administrative authorization measure. The general sentiment appears neutral to supportive, as such bills typically serve to ratify agency rules rather than advance contested policy changes.

Contention

No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Potential areas of concern, if raised, would likely involve the scope of Department of Health authority, the regulatory burden on critical access hospitals, or the effect of the rule on rural healthcare access and hospital operations. However, the record provided does not show any identified opposition or competing viewpoints.