Senate Health and Human Resources met Thursday evening, and advanced bills on providing protection on recovery homes and opioid treatment facilities.
Senate Bill 589 would focus on providing safeguards for recovery residences, which are drug and alcohol-free homes intended to support individuals during their recovery journey in West Virginia.
This bill would change current law by reducing the mandatory registration of recovery residences. This would allow recovery programs to register with the state only if they want to removes agency’s authority, providing more freedom.
Illegal patient referrals would be prohibited, making it a crime to pay or receive money to transfer patients to or from recovery homes or healthcare providers, helping prevent exploitation and corruption.
Several individuals came and testified to the body, sharing heartfelt stories about their personal struggles with addiction and how they have successfully turned their lives around.
They emphasized that long-term recovery programs are far more effective than short-term approaches and voiced strong support for the bill, highlighting how it could help others achieve the same positive outcomes.
“This is my best day in the legislature, and it’s my worst day in the legislature because for every victorious person that stands here, there are hundreds of people who are on the front side of their story. We’ve got to affect outcome, not talk about it or debate about it; we must change the system,” T. Kevan Bartlett (R – Kanawha, 08) stated.
The bill was reported to the full Senate with a recommendation of passage, first being sent to the committee on Judiciary.
The body also discussed four bills, including House Bill 4196, which would prohibit individuals and corporations from operating an opioid treatment facility program without first obtaining a license from the Director of the Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification.
Following a discussion, the four bills were sent to the full Senate with a recommendation of passage.
