By Steven Allen Adams for The Intelligencer
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — In a blow to a major agenda item proposed by Gov. Patrick Morrisey, lawmakers in a West Virginia House of Delegates committee voted down yet another attempt to repeal the state’s certificate of need program for health care services.
The House Health and Human Resources Committee voted down a committee substitute for House Bill 2007, repealing the certificate of need (CON) program, in a 12-13 vote Monday afternoon.
Later Monday evening, an attempt was made to reconsider the vote in committee on HB 2007, a parliamentary motion that can only be made once, ensuring that the House bill cannot be taken up in the future. Committee members rejected the reconsideration motion.
The amended bill would have eliminated the CON program and the state Health Care Authority – the state agency that approves CON requests – effective Jan. 1, 2026. The committee substitute also would have continued the moratorium placed within the CON program for nursing home facilities and beds, intermediate care facilities and beds, methadone clinics, licensed substance use treatment beds, and hospice care.