Bill > HB3158

This bill aims to effectively prohibit methadone clinics in West Virginia by making significant changes to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs. The bill modifies existing law to prohibit opioid treatment programs from using opioid agonists, which includes methadone, as a form of treatment for substance use disorders. Specifically, the bill adds language to prevent licensing or registration of any medication-assisted treatment program that uses opioid agonists, effectively banning methadone clinics. Key provisions include modifying definitions to exclude opioid agonists from acceptable treatment medications, adding a new clause to both opioid treatment program and office-based medication-assisted treatment program sections that explicitly forbids the use of opioid agonists, and establishing penalties for programs that violate these new restrictions. The bill maintains other existing regulations for medication-assisted treatment programs, such as licensing requirements, operational standards, and medical director qualifications, but fundamentally changes the approach to treating substance use disorders by eliminating methadone as a treatment option. This would significantly impact how addiction treatment is approached in West Virginia, potentially forcing treatment programs to use alternative medications like buprenorphine.

Health and Social Services

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=3158&year=2025&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill