Several bills were discussed after a public hearing was held in the House Health Committee meeting.
SB 347 would update the practice act for physician assistant. It substitutes “collaborating” for “supervising.” It would alter the make-up of the Board of Medicine to include a second physician assistants to prescribe schedule II and Schedule III drugs in certain circumstances. It eliminates the need for a recertification exam once the physician assistant is board certified. It allows physician assistants to be reimbursed at the same rate as physicians and advance practice registered nurses. This bill will be reported to the floor with recommendation that it do pass but first be referred to the Judiciary Committee.
SB 4 would allow certain licensed professionals to donate their time to the care of the indigent and the needy and to allow them to gain credit for their time against continuing education requirements needed to maintain their license. This bill will be reported to the floor with recommendation that it do pass but first be referred to the Judiciary Committee.
SB 198 would extend eligibility for loans to health care practitioners who practice in areas of the state which have a need for emergency medical providers. This bill will be reported to the floor with recommendation that it do pass but first be referred to the Finance Committee.
HB 2827 would update the provisions of the all payer claims database.
HB 2724 would rename the Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs as the Herbert Henderson Office of Inclusion and would establish a community-based pilot project to promote public health through comprehensive community development in communities across West Virginia, and to support this project through the Herbert Henderson Office of Inclusion.
Two bills were laid over to the next meeting.
HB 2736 would authorize the selling of state-owned long-term care facilities by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources.
HB 2002 would modify the law requiring parental notification of abortions performed on emancipated minors.
