West Virginians Support Free-Market Healthcare
West Virginia’s outdated Certificate of Need (CON) laws prevent critical healthcare expansion, limit access to essential services, and drive up costs. A strong majority of voters support reforming these laws to allow hospitals to build and expand without unnecessary state interference. It’s time to put patients first and eliminate these burdensome regulations.
Broad Public Support for Reform
Nearly half of all West Virginia voters support allowing hospitals to expand without state approval, with support strongest among Republicans (52%) and independents (42%). Opposition remains low across all political groups, and a significant portion of voters are simply unaware of these restrictive policies. This presents an opportunity to educate West Virginians on how CON laws are blocking access to healthcare and driving up costs.
Healthcare Access and Affordability in Rural Areas
When voters learn that eliminating CON laws would improve affordability and accessibility, support skyrockets. A commanding 80% of voters say they would be more likely to support reform, with 57% much more likely. This overwhelming majority highlights the urgent need to remove these barriers, particularly for rural communities that suffer from physician shortages and hospital closures.
More Trauma Centers and Critical Services
The need for more trauma centers resonates deeply with West Virginians, with 79% of voters more likely to support reform if it results in increased emergency care capacity. Delays in treatment due to limited facilities can mean the difference between life and death. By eliminating CON laws, West Virginia can remove bureaucratic roadblocks and ensure that life-saving medical services are available where and when they are needed most.
Expanding Care for Women and Seniors
West Virginia’s restrictive healthcare laws are disproportionately affecting pregnant women and seniors. An overwhelming 80% of voters support reforms that would expand maternity care options, and 79% support policies that would increase the number of nursing homes and memory care facilities. With an aging population and rising maternal healthcare concerns, repealing CON laws is a necessary step to ensure every West Virginian has access to high-quality care.
End-of-Life and Home Healthcare Services
Hospice care and at-home healthcare options are critical for providing dignity and comfort to those in need. Eliminating CON laws would allow for more hospice facilities and home healthcare services, a reform supported by 80% of voters. As more West Virginians seek alternatives to institutional care, state regulations should not stand in the way of their choices.
Economic Growth and Medical Innovation
West Virginians understand that healthcare reform is not just about access—it’s also about jobs. A full 82% of voters say they are more likely to support repealing CON laws if it brings more medical technology jobs to the state. By removing government-imposed barriers, West Virginia can attract investment, foster competition, and create new employment opportunities in the medical sector.
Stopping Anti-Competitive Practices
Current law allows large hospital systems to block competitors from opening new facilities—a practice opposed by 58% of voters across party lines. Healthcare should be about serving patients, not protecting monopolies. Eliminating CON laws will level the playing field and ensure that patients—not powerful hospital lobbyists—have control over their healthcare options.
A Common-Sense Reform
West Virginians overwhelmingly favor market-driven healthcare solutions. Whether it’s expanding emergency services, increasing maternity care access, growing the healthcare workforce, or improving affordability, the evidence is clear: eliminating CON laws is a step toward a healthier, more prosperous West Virginia. Lawmakers should take action now to remove these outdated regulations and allow healthcare providers to meet the needs of their communities without government interference.
It’s time to cut the red tape and put patients before political protectionism. West Virginians overwhelmingly support repealing CON laws because they see the harm—fewer treatment options, higher costs, and restricted access to end-of-life care. This isn’t about partisan politics; it’s about making sure medical facilities can expand, doctors can serve, and families can get the care they need without government interference. Every delay costs lives.
Stay Informed
Sign up to receive updates about our fight for policies at the state level that restore liberty, accountability, and innovation in American governance.