H. B. 2207


(By Delegate Stalnaker)

[Introduced January 14, 2003 ; referred to the

Committee on Health and Human Resources then 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 has the power: (1) To initiate reviews and investigations of hospital rates and establish and approve such the rates; (2) to initiate reviews and investigations of hospital rates for specific services and the component factors which determine rates; (3) to initiate reviews and investigations of hospital budgets and the specific components of 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.