Guest column submitted by Jim Kaufman, President and CEO, West Virginia Hospital Association
This week, the West Virginia Hospital Association (WVHA) unveiled its 2026 legislative agenda against a backdrop of sweeping changes in American healthcare. How care is delivered and paid for is changing rapidly, and the debate in Washington over the future of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has created more uncertainty for families, payers and providers alike.
Through all of this uncertainty, one thing has not changed: hospitals remain open 24/7/365, ready to care for every West Virginian. The WVHA agenda reflects this core mission: to strengthen the health and well-being of every community in the Mountain State and ensure that all West Virginians have access to dependable, affordable care close to home.
West Virginia’s hospitals provide far more than just care within their own walls. They serve as economic anchors, employers, educators and partners in community well-being. Hospitals in our state provide $1.12 billion in annual community benefit and drive $16.9 billion in economic impact statewide, supporting about 14 percent of West Virginia’s total workforce.
As we look ahead to the 2026 legislative session, we encourage policymakers to consider the shifting national landscape before making any other changes that impact hospitals’ ability to deliver affordable healthcare. At a time when federal debates threaten to reshape everything from coverage to payment models, West Virginia cannot afford policies that weaken the very hospitals that hold our communities together.
That starts with ensuring sustainable payment across Medicare, Medicaid and the Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA). Let’s be clear: Hospitals cannot maintain services, invest in technology, or retain staff when payments don’t even cover the cost of providing care. Nearly three-quarters of hospital patients depend on these public programs, and stable funding means stable access to care.
We are also dedicated to protecting the tools that help hospitals maximize limited resources. The federal 340B drug pricing program, for example, supports prescription access, mental health services and mobile screenings for uninsured families – at no cost to taxpayers. This is one of those programs where a small investment makes a big impact, and I want people to understand how vital it is in rural states like ours. In many of our rural communities, 340B savings are crucial, often deciding whether services are provided locally or patients must drive hours for their care.
Another critical priority is maintaining the Certificate of Need (CON) program. In rural states, coordinated healthcare planning is essential. When services are unnecessarily duplicated, existing hospitals can be destabilized, leaving communities at risk. I often remind people that CON is all about protecting access by ensuring we grow our healthcare network responsibly.
Strengthening community health remains the backbone of our agenda. West Virginia continues to face major public health challenges, including mental health and substance use crises, chronic disease burdens and cancer rates that exceed national averages. WVHA hospitals are stepping up with innovative programs like mobile screenings and education partnerships that reach families where they are. These programs support better health and help prevent unnecessary hospital visits.
And we cannot solve any of these issues without a strong workforce. Hospitals directly employ nearly 54,000 West Virginians and indirectly support another 46,800 jobs statewide. From Wheeling to Welch, Huntington to the Eastern Panhandle and everywhere in between, I am proud to work alongside so many dedicated and talented individuals. But like the rest of the country, we face critical staffing shortages.
This is a challenge I hear about everywhere I go: every hospital, large or small, is doing everything possible to recruit and retain staff. Our workforce priorities focus on growing the pipeline through in-state tuition programs for healthcare students and updating the licensing process to allow us to license physicians faster.
WVHA’s 2026 legislative agenda shows that West Virginia’s hospitals are not just care providers, but also community pillars. They lift up the Mountain State’s economy while improving the health and well-being of the people who call it home. We take all of these responsibilities seriously.
We look forward to working with Governor Morrisey, legislative leaders and our community partners to build a stronger, healthier future for West Virginia. With strategic policy support and continued collaboration, we can ensure that hospitals remain accessible to all West Virginians and are prepared to meet the needs of today, tomorrow and years to come.
