WV HB5523

Requires hospitals, clinics, urgent care facilities, and emergency departments to have a licensed physician or certified nurse midwife examine pregnant women in later stages of pregnancy before discharge

Mandates written and verbal discharge instructions covering expected late-pregnancy progression, signs of labor, warning signs of emergencies (bleeding, severe pain, reduced fetal movement, high blood pressure symptoms, ruptured membranes), and when to return to the hospital

Discharge instructions must include activity/rest/hydration guidance, recommended obstetrical follow-up timing, and emergency contact information

Instructions must be provided in understandable language and accessible formats for patients with visual, hearing, or cognitive impairments, with opportunity for questions

Facilities must document in medical records that discharge instructions were provided, reviewed, and acknowledged by the patient or authorized representative