West Virginia Code of State Rules Agency 64 - Health
The West Virginia Code of State Rules, Agency 64, is a comprehensive set of regulations pertaining to Public Health within the state. It is administered by the West Virginia Department of Health (WV DH), which was formerly part of the larger Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) before its reorganization in January 2024.
Agency 64 covers a vast array of topics aimed at protecting and promoting the health and well-being of West Virginia residents. Here's a summary of the broad categories and specific examples of what these rules encompass:
I. Public Health Infrastructure and Administration:
Rules of Procedure: Outlines the process for contested case hearings and declaratory rulings (e.g., Series 64-01).
Local Boards of Health: Establishes standards and guidelines for local health departments and the distribution of state funds to support them (e.g., Series 64-73, 64-108).
Data and Information Systems: Rules related to health statistics, birth defects information system, and other data collection efforts (e.g., Series 64-81, 64-94).
II. Facility Licensure and Regulation:
Healthcare Facilities: Licensing requirements for a wide range of facilities, including:
Hospitals (Series 64-12)
Nursing Homes (Series 64-13)
Assisted Living Residences (Series 64-14)
Medical Adult Day Care Centers (Series 64-02)
Behavioral Health Centers (Series 64-11)
Residential Board and Care Homes (Series 64-65)
Birthing Centers
Chronic Pain Management Clinics
Hospice
Legally Unlicensed Health Care Homes
Patient Rights: Regulations outlining the rights of patients in state-operated mental health facilities (Series 64-59) and other healthcare settings.
III. Environmental Health and Sanitation:
Water Systems: Extensive regulations for public water systems, including:
Public Water Systems (Series 64-03)
Public Water Systems Operators Regulations (Series 64-04)
Cross-Connection and Backflow Prevention (Series 64-08, 64-15)
Water Well Design Standards (Series 64-46)
Drinking Water Treatment Revolving Fund (Series 64-49)
Wastewater and Sewage: Regulations for wastewater systems and operators, and sewage systems (e.g., Series 64-05, 64-09, 64-47).
Food Safety: Rules for food establishments (Series 64-17), food manufacturing facilities (Series 64-43), and specific products like ice cream and frozen milk (Series 64-28).
Recreational Facilities: Standards for recreational water facilities (Series 64-16).
Hazardous Materials: Regulations related to lead abatement (Series 64-45), asbestos abatement (Series 64-63), radon licensure (Series 64-78), and clandestine drug laboratory remediation (Series 64-92).
Waste Management: Rules for infectious medical waste.
General Sanitation: Regulations covering institutions, schools, care facilities, lodging facilities, and public restrooms (Series 64-18).
IV. Disease Prevention and Control:
Reportable Diseases: Rules for reporting specific diseases, events, and conditions (Series 64-07).
Immunization: Immunization criteria for transfer students and general requirements and recommendations for children attending school and child care (Series 64-58, 64-95).
Tuberculosis: Testing, control, treatment, and commitment procedures for tuberculosis (Series 64-76).
HIV/AIDS: Regulations concerning AIDS-related medical testing and confidentiality (Series 64-64).
Newborn Screening: Newborn hearing screening (Series 64-24) and the newborn screening system (Series 64-91).
Needlestick Injury Prevention (Series 64-82).
Communicable Diseases (Series 64-NK).
V. Health Programs and Services:
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) (Series 64-48) and the Statewide Trauma/Emergency Care System (Series 64-27).
Behavioral Health: Regulations for behavioral health centers and consumer rights in behavioral health (Series 64-74).
Medication Administration: Delegation of medication administration and health maintenance tasks to approved medication assistive personnel (Series 64-60).
Opioid Programs: Regulation of opioid treatment programs (Series 64-90) and certification of opioid overdose prevention and treatment training programs (Series 64-104).
Medical Cannabis Program: General provisions and specific rules for growers/processors (Series 64-109, 64-110).
Patient Surrogates: Regulations for surrogates for incapacitated persons in health care facilities (Series 64-86).
Medical Examiner: Requirements for postmortem inquiries (Series 64-84).
Body Piercing: Studio business regulations (Series 64-80).
Domestic Violence: Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team (Series 64-93).
Maternal and Infant Health: Maternal Risk Screening (Series 64-97) and Infant and Maternal Mortality Review Team (Series 64-96).
This extensive list demonstrates the broad scope of public health governance in West Virginia as covered by Agency 64, aiming to address virtually all aspects of population health, from environmental safety to disease control and healthcare facility oversight. For the most precise and up-to-date information, it's always best to consult the official West Virginia Legislature website or the West Virginia Department of Health's website.
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