It’s called House Bill 3274, or the Affordable Medicaid Buy-In bill. It would establish a health care plan for West Virginians who are ineligible for Medicaid and Medicare. Its benefits would include:

• Ambulatory patient services
• Emergency services
• Hospitalization
• Maternity and newborn care
• Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment
• Prescription drugs
• Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices
• Laboratory services
• Preventive and wellness services, including reproductive health and chronic disease management
• Pediatric services, including oral and vision care

The bill calls for the program to be established by Jan. 1, 2024. It was introduced by Delegates Evan Worrell (R, Cabell) and co-sponsored by Mickey Petitto (R, Harrison), Kathie Hess Crouse (R, Putnam), Steve Westfall (R, Jackson), Mark Dean (R, Mingo), Mike Hornby (R, Berkeley), Erikka Storch (R, Ohio), Mike Honaker (R, Greenbrier), Michael Hite (R, Berkeley) and Todd Longanacre (R, Greenbrier).

It’s currently in the House Health and Human Resources Committee.

Click here to read the full bill.