WV SB833

Health care practitioners who average 30 procedures per year and achieve a 90% prior authorization approval rate over six months qualify for "gold card" status, exempting them from prior authorization requirements for at least six months

Pharmaceutical medications are explicitly excluded from the gold card exemption, meaning prior authorization requirements continue to apply to prescription drugs regardless of a practitioner's approval rating

The bill applies to multiple insurance types including the Public Employees Insurance Agency, Bureau for Medical Services (Medicaid), accident and sickness insurance, group insurance, hospital/medical service corporations, health care corporations, and health maintenance organizations

Insurers must respond to prior authorization requests within 5 business days (2 business days for urgent/life-threatening conditions), and approved authorizations carry over between insurers for 3 months within the state

The Insurance Commissioner or Inspector General must collect quarterly compliance data including denial rates, appeals, gold card status holders, and revocations, and may assess civil penalties for violations