WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2023 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

Senate Bill 476

By Senator Tarr

[Introduced January 25, 2023; referred
to the Committee on Health and Human Resources]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §9-5-31, relating to requiring the number of managed care organizations administered by the Bureau of Medical Services in the Mountain Health Trust be increased and set at four; and requiring that the additional managed care organization to have an established adult and youth reentry plan for persons released from jail or prison.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 5. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

§9-5-31. Increased number of managed health care organization in Mountain Health Trust.

(a) The Bureau for Medical Services shall increase the number of managed health care organizations providing services under this article to a maximum number of four in the Mountain Health Trust.

(b) The Bureau for Medical Services shall select an organization with an established adult and youth reentry program to assist recipients or the parents of children who have been released from jail or prison back into daily life.

(c) The managed health care organizations that are awarded a contract to perform services under this section shall be given at least a six months' notice of the award in order to prepare for implementation of their services.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require the number of managed care organizations administered by the Bureau of Medical Services in the Mountain Health Trust be set at four. The bill also requires that the organization have an established adult and youth reentry plan for persons released from jail or prison.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.