Published: April 19, 2007 11:20 pm      

Health a top concern for ’07 legislative studies

CHARLESTON — West Virginia is one of the least healthy states in the country, and lawmakers are putting their heads together to try and change that distinction.

An interim health committee has been charged with studying six resolutions passed during the recent 60-day session, along with the issue of access to oral health care. In addition, an interim education committee will look at requiring daily physical education classes for students.

Two of the most sweeping study resolutions call for an overall examination of health care in West Virginia, with one resolution specifically tasking lawmakers to look at the possibility of a single payer plan, meaning universal health care.

Simply studying an issue, though, is no guarantee that new laws will come from the interim sessions. One of the hottest topics of the 2006 interims was all-terrain vehicle safety. Those interim meetings led to two pieces of ATV legislation that both failed to become law this year.

Still, lawmakers say the focus on health is a sign that the state is taking seriously the medical problems — and attendant costs — of some of its residents.

“If you look at the end product of a regular session, those pieces of legislation that come from the interim study process are in a much better position to be acted upon,” said Sen. Evan Jenkins, D-Cabell. Jenkins is one of the sponsors of a resolution to be studied this year calling for an examination of health care reform options.

The Legislature’s goal should be to improve the health of West Virginians, to reduce the costs of medical care and to expand insurance coverage as much as possible, he said. While he’s optimistic about this year’s interim sessions, Jenkins doesn’t think the problem can be handled in a single legislative session.

“This is not a 60-day legislative session kind of issue,” said Jenkins, who is executive director of the West Virginia Medical Association.

Advocates of health care reform were glad to see the resolutions being adopted for interim study, but say it’s too early to know how productive the sessions will be.

“There are no guarantees in the legislative process,” said Perry Bryant, executive director of West Virginians for Affordable Health Care. “All you can do is take the potential that’s there and try to make it reality.”

Not all the health-related studies will be quite so broad.

One of the resolutions adopted by the Legislature calls for the study of allowing people with impaired vision to drive, possibly by using special bioptic lenses. Because of a change in state government, there are West Virginia state employees who train other states in how to set up such programs, although it’s not legal to do so in the Mountain State.

Martinsburg resident Lisa Mathews has a 16-year-old son with low vision. She campaigned during this year’s regular session for a law that would allow low-vision drivers to be licensed if they use special lenses.

“It’s cause for hope that they’re going to study it,” she said Thursday. “I thought it was dead in the water.”

Among other topics the Legislature will study during interim sessions this year:

— West Virginia’s autism rate, and whether additional services are needed for people with autism.

— The effects of underground coal slurry injection on human health and the environment.

— Ways to encourage PROMISE scholars to stay in West Virginia after graduating from college.

— Reducing time of school bus rides for elementary school students.

— Whether to establish additional public defender corporations in West Virginia.

— The tax on soft drinks, which Gov. Joe Manchin proposed abolishing this year.

— Insurance coverage for the replacement of county buildings.

— The expansion of broadband internet service throughout the state.

The issues will be studied during the remainder of the year at monthly interim committee meetings. Reports should be submitted prior to the start of the 2008 legislative session.