House Health Chairman Don Perdue has been selected to serve as Vice Chair of the National Conference of Legislature’s Health Committee.

The Chairman is serving in his new position during this week’s Fall Forum in Tampa Florida (Nov. 30 through Dec. 2) and will continue in that capacity through the Legislative Summit in August 2012.

"As National policy issues have such impact on our State, I look forward to being positioned to engage those issues in the context of West Virginia and its citizens concerns,” Perdue, D-Wayne, said. “It is an honor and even more, a privilege, to serve in that role."

The NCSL Health Committee has jurisdiction over state and federal health programs, legislation, regulations and policies and its goals are:

* To educate Congress and federal agencies about state concerns regarding developments in federal health initiatives and programs and grants to states.

* To serves as a forum for legislators and legislative staff to learn about and share information regarding health programs and health policy initiatives in other states.

Recently, the committee has addressed Medicare prescription drug coverage; Medicaid; health care cost containment; health care access; and public health and prevention

The NCSL Health Committee tends to collaborate in monthly phone calls and its members are also part of NCSL’s Health Reform Task Force.

“NCSL has reported to us that members of at least 45 state Legislatures have proposed legislation to limit, alter or oppose selected state or federal actions related to health care,” Chairman Perdue noted. “It is vital that lawmakers from throughout the country consult and collaborate to address the many concerns our constituents have about their health care.”