BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – A legislative briefing was held by area hospitals for Senators and Delegates from Central West Virginia on Monday, December 4.
Karen Bowling, Chair of the West Virginia Hospital Association’s (WVHA) Legislative Committee and President and CEO of WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital, gave an overview of the WVHA’s 2024 Legislative Agenda. It includes enhancing financial stability for hospitals, mitigating healthcare worker shortages, ensuring affordable prescription drugs, facilitating access to behavioral health services and other issues of importance to West Virginia hospitals.
The visiting legislators included Senator Bill Hamilton (Senate District 11), Delegate Caleb Hanna (House District 48), Delegate Mickey Petito (House District 70), Delegate Chris Phillips (House District 68), Delegate Amy Summers (House District 73) and Delegate Heather Tully (House District 49). Also in attendance were Brandon Hatfield, WVHA General Counsel, and Melanie Dempsey, WVHA Vice President, Financial Policy, along with several staff members from the sponsoring hospitals.
The briefing was sponsored by Minnie Hamilton Health System, Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital, WVU Medicine Braxton County Memorial Hospital, WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital, WVU Medicine Summersville Regional Medical Center and WVU Medicine United Hospital Center. The event was held at the Outpost and Event Center in Buckhannon.
