HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 145
(By Delegates Ellington, Householder, Border and Perdue)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study direct primary care.
WHEREAS, Direct primary care is primary care offered directly to the consumer without insurance administration - - incorporating various health care delivery systems that involve direct financial relationships between patients and health care providers; and
WHEREAS, Direct primary care is intended to remove many of the financial barriers of healthcare - -often, there are no insurance co-pays, deductibles or co-insurance fees thus avoiding the overhead and complexity of maintaining relationships with insurers; and
WHEREAS, One of the lesser known provisions of the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act (PPACA) in Section 1301 (and amendment Section 10104) allows for direct primary care to compete with traditional health insurance options in the mandated health insurance exchange when combined with a low cost high deductible plan; and
WHEREAS, Direct primary care practices do not typically accept insurance payments, thus avoiding the overhead and complexity of maintaining relationships with insurers; and
WHEREAS, Because direct primary care payments are typically paid over time, rather than in return for specific services, the economic incentives are such that the long-term health of the patient can be a profitable option for providers while also being an affordable option to patients; and
WHEREAS, West Virginia currently does not authorize direct primary care ; therefore be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to study the potential benefits of authorizing direct primary care in West Virginia as an alternative for those citizens who do not qualify for Medicaid and are unable to afford health insurance; and, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance shall consult with the State Medical
Board, the Insurance Commission, medical providers, health insurers and any other relevant groups
or entities in gathering and reviewing information regarding direct primary care; and, be it
Further Resolved, That Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular
session of the Legislature, 2016, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with
drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and
to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance.