West Virginia House Bill HB2310

West Virginia 2025 Regular Session

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

Caption

Relating to authorizing the Board of Occupational Therapy to promulgate a legislative rule relating to telehealth practice requirements and definitions

Summary

House Bill 2310 authorizes the West Virginia Board of Occupational Therapy to promulgate a legislative rule governing telehealth practice requirements and definitions. The bill does not itself create a new telehealth regulatory framework in statute; instead, it gives legislative approval to an existing rule filed by the board and revised to address objections from the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee. The measure is narrowly focused on occupational therapy and telehealth. It confirms the board’s authority to move forward with administrative rules at 13 CSR 09 that define and set requirements for telehealth practice, which can affect how occupational therapists provide services remotely, how those services are defined, and how compliance is enforced under state regulation.

Impact

HB2310 amends West Virginia Code §64-9-1 to authorize a specific legislative rule for the Board of Occupational Therapy. Its practical effect is to validate the board’s telehealth rulemaking and allow the rule to take effect as part of the state’s administrative code, thereby shaping standards for occupational therapy services delivered via telehealth and the parties who provide or receive those services.

Sentiment

The available record suggests little overt controversy or debate around the bill. Because the bill is a rule-authorization measure and there are no recorded committee transcripts or votes in the provided materials, the general sentiment appears procedural and administrative rather than partisan or contentious. The bill’s language indicates the board already modified the rule to satisfy legislative review concerns, which suggests the measure was designed to resolve technical objections and move the rule forward.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is the scope and content of the telehealth practice rule itself, particularly how it defines telehealth and what requirements it imposes on occupational therapists. Any concerns would likely center on regulatory burden, professional standards, patient access, and whether the rule appropriately balances flexibility in remote care with oversight. However, the provided materials do not show any specific opposition, amendments, or recorded disputes from legislators or stakeholders.