HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 143

(By Delegates Ashley, Anderson, Williams, Evans, Canterbury, Hamilton, Pethtel, Householder, Butler, Espinosa, Moye, Westfall, Frich, Bates, Storch, H.K. White, Gearheart and Miller)

(Originating in the Committee on Finance)

[March 11, 2015]

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance, to study the feasibility and, if indicated, develop a proposal for divestiture and privatization or development of a performance-based, public-private partnership model for the operation and maintenance of all or some of the State’s hospital and nursing facilities.

            Whereas, The State of West Virginia owns and its Department of Health and Human Resources operates the Hopemont Hospital, Jackie Withrow Hospital, John Manchin Sr. Health Care Center, Lakin Hospital, Mildred Mitchell Bateman Hospital, Welch Community Hospital, and William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital; and

            Whereas, The State of West Virginia owns and its Department of Veterans Assistance operates the West Virginia Veterans’ Nursing Facility; and

            Whereas, The Legislature’s foremost concern in entertaining these options is for the populations served by the facilities and bettering the quality and value of the care they receive; and

            Whereas, The State’s ownership and operation of these facilities may limit the full potential of these institutions to thrive in their respective communities, to expand, and provide cutting-edge and necessary quality care; and

            Whereas, The employees of these facilities are tethered to a pay scale and personnel policies that are not optimally competitive with the greater health care labor market, contributing to employee turnover problems and costs, insufficient compensation of facility professionals, and stagnation; and

            Whereas, The facilities owned and operated by the State are valuable assets which may be sold to raise revenue for other important public purposes while also reducing State costs for patient care; and

            Whereas, Private hospitals and nursing homes are better able to adapt to market needs and ever increasing standards of care, hire and fairly compensate highly qualified professionals, and drive system efficiencies and improvements without the impediments inherent to state owned and operated enterprises; therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

            That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance, study the feasibility and, if indicated, develop a proposal for divestiture and privatization or development of a performance-based, public-private partnership model for the operation and maintenance of all or some of the State’s hospital and nursing facilities; and, be it

            Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance, employ such consultants and experts as may be required to assess the feasibility and planning for any indicated divestiture and privatization or performance-based, public-private partnership; and, be it

            Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the Legislature, on the first day of the regular session, 2016, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations together with drafts of any legislation 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.