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HB 5181

Relating to removing the Certificate of Need moratorium on opioid treatment facilities

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Hollis Lewis and 1 co-sponsor

West Virginia bill removes state Certificate of Need requirement for new opioid treatment facilities, allowing faster expansion of addiction treatment centers without regulatory pre-approval.

To House Health and Human Resources
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Bill Summary · HB 5181

Legislative bill overview

HB 5181 would remove West Virginia's moratorium on issuing Certificates of Need (CON) for opioid treatment facilities. The bill allows new addiction treatment centers to be established without obtaining state approval under the CON process, which has restricted their creation during the moratorium period.

Why is this important

West Virginia has one of the nation's highest opioid addiction and overdose death rates, making access to treatment facilities a critical public health issue. Removing the moratorium could expand treatment capacity and accessibility for residents seeking addiction services, though implementation depends on whether other regulatory barriers remain in place.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and duplication concerns: Critics may argue removing CON requirements could lead to oversupply of facilities in profitable areas while underserving rural regions, or create unnecessary competition that duplicates services
  • Quality and accountability standards: Questions about whether facilities opened without CON oversight will maintain adequate treatment standards, staff credentials, and outcome metrics
  • Sustainability and financing: Debate over whether market-driven expansion ensures facilities remain financially viable long-term and adequately serve uninsured/underinsured patients versus profitable patient populations

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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