Plain English Breakdown
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HB5459 • 2026
Relating to a tax on managed care organizations
This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.
The plain English breakdown is still being put together. The official documents below are already here.
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Plain English: HB5459 HFA Rohrbach 2-26 #1 McO Delegate Rohrbach moves to amend the bill on page three, section ten-a, line fifty, by striking out the number “ 2026 ” and inserting in lieu thereof the number “ 2027 ”; On page four, section ten-a, line ninety-seven, by striking out the number “ 2026 ” and inserting in lieu thereof the number “ 2027 ”; and On page five, section ten-a, line 101, following the words “financial participation” and the period, by inserting a new sentence as follows: “ Until July 1, 2027, the provisions of this section in effect prior to the amendments to this section enacted in 2026 shall remain in full force and effect.
Plain English: HB5459 HFA Rohrbach 2-26 #1 McO Delegate Rohrbach moves to amend the bill on page three, section ten-a, line fifty, by striking out the number “ 2026 ” and inserting in lieu thereof the number “ 2027 ”; On page four, section ten-a, line ninety-seven, by striking out the number “ 2026 ” and inserting in lieu thereof the number “ 2027 ”; and On page five, section ten-a, line 101, following the words “financial participation” and the period, by inserting a new sentence as follows: “ Until July 1, 2027, the provisions of this section in effect prior to the amendments to this section enacted in 2026 shall remain in full force and effect.
Approved by Governor 3/27/2026
To Governor 3/25/26
Approved by Governor 3/27/2026 - Senate Journal
Approved by Governor 3/27/2026 - House Journal
To Governor 3/25/2026 - Senate Journal
House received Senate message
Completed legislative action
Communicated to House
Passed Senate (Roll No. 471)
Read 3rd time
On 3rd reading
Read 2nd time
On 2nd reading
Read 1st time
On 1st reading
Reported do pass
To Finance
To Finance
Introduced in Senate
Communicated to Senate
Passed House (Roll No. 249)
Read 3rd time
On 3rd reading, Special Calendar
Amendment adopted (Voice vote)
Amendment reported by the Clerk
Read 2nd time
On 2nd reading, Special Calendar
Read 1st time
On 1st reading, Special Calendar
Do pass
To House Finance
Introduced in House
To Finance
Filed for introduction
Relating to a tax on managed care organizations
HB 5459 Text skip navigation SENATE PRESIDENT SENATORS COMMITTEES VIDEO/AUDIO DISTRICT MAPS SENATE CLERK SENATE RULES HOUSE SPEAKER DELEGATES COMMITTEES VIDEO/AUDIO DISTRICT MAPS HOUSE CLERK HOUSE RULES HOUSE STAFF JOINT INTERIM COMMITTEES LEGISLATIVE ADMINISTRATOR LEGISLATIVE SERVICES DIVISION PUBLIC INFORMATION LEGISLATIVE AUTOMATED SYSTEMS DIVISION LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR'S OFFICE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION & RESEARCH DIVISION POST AUDIT DIVISION BUDGET DIVISION REGULATORY AND FISCAL AFFAIRS DIVISION CLAIMS COMMISSION CRIME VICTIMS RULE-MAKING REVIEW SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS JUDICIAL COMP. COMMISSION JOINT RULES STAFF INFO BILL STATUS BILL STATUS BILL TRACKING STATE LAW WEST VIRGINIA CODE ACTS OF THE LEGISLATURE CODE OF 1931 WV CONSTITUTION US CONSTITUTION REPORTS AGENCY REPORTS AGENCY GRANT AWARDS PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS POST AUDITS EDUCATIONAL CITIZEN’S GUIDE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM PAGE PROGRAM PUBLICATIONS PHOTO GALLERY CAPITOL HISTORY HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW CONTACT SENATE ROSTER HOUSE ROSTER PUBLIC INFO. NEWS RELEASES HELPFUL LINKS Enrolled Version - Final Version House Bill 5459 History OTHER VERSIONS - Introduced Version | Engrossed Version | | Email Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE 2026 REGULAR SESSION ENROLLED House Bill 5459 By Delegates Rohrbach, Criss, Riley, and Ellington [Passed March 11, 2026; in effect 90 days from passage (June 9, 2026)] AN ACT to amend and reenact § 11-27-10a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the health care provider tax on managed care organizations. Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia: ARTICLE 27. HEALTH CARE PROVIDER TAXES. §11-27-10a. Imposition of tax on managed care organizations. (a) Imposition of tax . — For the privilege of holding a certificate of authority within this state to establish or operate a "health maintenance organization" pursuant to §33-25A-4 of this code (hereinafter "certified HMO"), there is hereby levied and shall be collected from every such certified HMO an annual broad-based health care-related tax. (b) Rate and measure of tax . (i) Beginning July 1, 2027, the tax imposed by this section shall be two and one-half percent of each certified HMO’s gross premiums written in this state during each calendar quarter. The tax rate in this subsection applies uniformly to all certified HMOs regardless of their share of Medicaid, Medicare, commercial, or non-Medicaid membership. The tax imposed in this section does not apply to Medicare Advantage plans, a health plan issued by the West Virginia Public Employees Insurance Agency or a plan issued pursuant to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Act of 1959 (Public Law 86-382) to the extent the imposition of the tax under this section is preempted pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 8909(f). (c) Definitions . — (1) "Managed care organization" or "MCO" means a certified HMO that provides health care services in the state of West Virginia. (2) "Taxable health plan" means: (i) An agreement or contract under which a certified HMO agrees to provide health care services in the state of West Virginia. (3) "Tax year" means the fiscal year beginning on July 1 and ending on June 30. (4) "Gross Premiums" means the total amount of premiums, capitation payments, or other consideration received by the certified HMO for providing or arranging health care services to enrollees in this state. (d) Effective date . — (i) On July 1, 2027, the tax structure under this section shall transition from the tiered member-month method to the gross premium assessment method described in subsection (b)(i) above subject to federal approval that the new tax structure imposed by this subsection is a permissible health care-related tax in accordance with 42 C.F.R. §433.68 and is therefore eligible for federal financial participation. Until July 1, 2027, the provisions of this section in effect prior to the amendments to this section enacted in 2026 shall remain in full force and effect. (ii) The tax imposed by this section shall be administered in accordance with the provisions of this article and the Tax Administration and Procedures act in §11-10-1 et seq. of this code: Provided , That the tax imposed by this section shall be automatically void if the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services determines that it is no longer a permissible health care-related tax that is eligible for federal financial participation. (e) Time for paying tax . — Notwithstanding the provisions of §11-27-25 of this code, no taxes may be collected under this article until the department receives written notice that the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has approved proposed Medicaid rates as actuarially sound for the taxable year in which the tax will be imposed. The Clerk of the House of Delegates and the Clerk of the Senate hereby certify that the foregoing bill is correctly enrolled. ............................................................... Clerk of the House of Delegates ............................................................... Clerk of the Senate Originated in the House of Delegates. In effect 90 days from passage. ............................................................... Speaker of the House of Delegates ............................................................... President of the Senate __________ The within is ................................................ this the........................................... Day of ..........................................................................................................., 2026. ............................................................. 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