FISCAL NOTE
2023 REGULAR SESSION
Introduced
Senate Bill 24
By Senators Smith and Hamilton
[Introduced January 11, 2023; referred
to the Committee on Health and Human Resources; and then to the Committee on Finance]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §9-5-31; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §26-5-2; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §26-9-3, all relating to providing long-term care and substance abuse treatment; authorizing the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources to modernize or build new facilities; requiring certified beds for long-term care and substance abuse treatment; requiring facilities for out-patient substance abuse treatment; requiring the hiring of adequate professional classified staff; and replacing an outdated reference to Pinecrest Hospital with the correct name of Jackie Withrow Hospital.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
(a) The Legislature finds and declares that due to the critical needs of an aging population and to treat substance abuse in this state, it is necessary for the state to maintain adequate facilities and provide certain services to meet the health care needs of our citizens.
(b) The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources shall, on or before July 1, 2023, plan and contract for the modernization or construction of new facilities on the grounds of Jackie Withrow Hospital and Hopemont State Hospital pursuant to §26-5-1 et seq. and §26-9-1 et seq. of this code.
(a) On or before July 1, 2023, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources shall plan and contract for the modernization of Jackie Withrow Hospital in Beckley, or shall plan and contract for the construction of an adequate long-term care facility and substance abuse treatment center to be located on the grounds of Jackie Withrow Hospital in Beckley.
(b) The modernized or new facility shall be called "Jackie Withrow Hospital" and shall have not less than 200 certified beds for longer term care, and not less than 100 certified beds for inpatient substance abuse treatment. The facility shall be modernized or constructed to also have adequate space and treatment rooms to provide substance abuse outpatient services to the community.
(c) The secretary shall hire adequate full time professional staff for the facility who are trained in long-term care and substance abuse treatment and who shall be classified employees. Staffing levels shall be maintained so that the facility is fully operational and functional 24 hours a day for each day of the year and full staffing levels shall be maintained while accounting for staff utilization of leave and other benefits.
(a) On or before July 1, 2023, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources shall plan and contract for the modernization of Hopemont Hospital in Tera Alta, or shall plan and contract for the construction of an adequate long-term care facility and substance abuse treatment center to be located on the grounds of Hopemont Hospital in Tera Alta.
(b) The modernized or new facility shall be called "Hopemont Hospital" and shall have not less than 100 certified beds for longer term care, and not less than 100 certified beds for inpatient substance abuse treatment. The facility shall be modernized or constructed to also have adequate space and treatment rooms to provide substance abuse outpatient services to the community.
(c) The secretary shall hire adequate full time professional staff for the facility who are trained in long-term care and substance abuse treatment and who shall be classified employees. Staffing levels shall be maintained so that the facility is fully operational and functional 24 hours a day for each day of the year and full staffing levels shall be maintained while accounting for staff utilization of leave and other benefits.