H. B. 4343
(By Delegate Stalnaker)
[Introduced February 1, 2000; referred to the
Committee on Government Organization.]
A BILL to amend and reenact section nineteen, article
twenty-nine-b, chapter sixteen of the code of West Virginia,
one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to
providing that the health care authority may not set hospital
rates for any hospital licensed to operate one hundred beds or
less.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section nineteen, article twenty-nine-b, chapter sixteen
of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one,
as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 29B. HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY.
§16-29B-19. Rate-setting powers generally.
(a) The board shall have power: (1) To initiate reviews and
investigations of hospital rates and establish and approve such
rates; (2) to initiate reviews and investigations of hospital rates
for specific services and the component factors which determine
such rates; (3) to initiate reviews and investigations of hospital
budgets and the specific components of such budgets; and (4) to
approve or disapprove hospital rates and budgets taking into
consideration the criteria set forth in section twenty of this
article.
(b) In the interest of promoting the most efficient and
effective use of hospital service, the board may adopt and approve
alternative methods of rate determination. The board may also
adopt methods of charges and payments of an experimental nature
which are in the public interest and consistent with the purpose of
this article.
(c) The board shall examine the need for an alternative to the
current rate-setting method as a means of controlling hospital
costs and submit the findings, recommendations and any proposed
drafts of legislation, if necessary, in a report to the legislative
oversight commission on health and human resources accountability
and the governor on or before the first day of August, one thousand nine hundred ninety-eight.
(d) Notwithstanding any provision in this article to the
contrary, the board may not set hospital rates for any hospital
licensed to operate one hundred beds or less.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide that the Health
Care Authority may not set hospital rates for any hospital licensed
to operate one hundred beds or less.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would
be added.