Rep. Joe Ellington (R-Mercer), a member of the Health and Human Resources Committee, sponsored House Bill 3102, which proposes the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources “divest the land, facilities, buildings, etc.,” in connection with HopemontHospital and “to ensure all patients are transferred to area facilities. It also directs [the] DHHR to sell any vacant beds [remaining at the facility] by July 1,” according to the report.
A similar bill introduced in the senate, SB 201, would permit the hiring of a consultant to consider a potential “sale, lease and renovation of certain state-owned healthcare facilities,” according to the report.
In addition to Hopemont Hospital, the passing of SB 201 would also decide the fates of five other West Virginia health facilities, including Huntington-based Mildred Mitchell Bateman Hospital, Weston-based William R. Sharpe, Jr. Hospital, Beckley-based Jackie Withrow Hospital, Fairmont-based John Manchin Sr. Health Center and West Columbia-based Lakin Hospital.
SB 201 was referred to the Senate Committee on Health and Human Resources and has proceeded on to the Committee on Finance for consideration, according to the report.
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