2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 16. Public Health › Article 5Y. Medication-Assisted Treatment Program Licensing Act › §16-5Y-8. License and Registration Limitation; Denial; Suspension; Revocation

(a) The secretary may, by order, impose a ban on the admission of patients or reduce the patient capacity of the medication-assisted treatment program, or any combination thereof, when he or she finds upon inspection of the medication-assisted treatment program that the licensee or registrant is not providing adequate care under the medication-assisted treatment program’s existing patient quota, and that a reduction in quota or imposition of a ban on admissions, or any combination thereof, would place the licensee or registrant in a position to render adequate care. Any notice to a licensee or registrant of reduction in quota or ban on new admissions shall include the terms of the order, the reasons therefor and the date set for compliance.
(b) The secretary shall deny, suspend or revoke a license or registration issued pursuant to this article if the provisions of this article or of the rules promulgated pursuant to this article are violated. The secretary may revoke a program’s license or registration and prohibit all physicians and licensed disciplines associated with that medication-assisted treatment program from practicing at the program location based upon an annual, periodic, complaint, verification or other inspection and evaluation.
(c) Before any such license or registration is denied, suspended or revoked, however, written notice shall be given to the licensee or registrant, stating the grounds for such denial, suspension or revocation.
(d) An applicant, licensee or registrant has ten working days after receipt of the secretary’s order denying, suspending or revoking a license or registration to request a formal hearing contesting such denial, suspension or revocation of a license or registration under this article. If a formal hearing is requested, the applicant, licensee or registrant and the secretary shall proceed in accordance with the provisions of article five, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code.
(e) If a license or registration is denied or revoked as herein provided, a new application for license or registration shall be considered by the secretary if, when and after the conditions upon which the denial or revocation was based have been corrected and evidence of this fact has been furnished. A new license or registration shall then be granted after proper inspection, if applicable, has been made and all provisions of this article and rules promulgated pursuant to this article have been satisfied.
(f) Any applicant, licensee or registrant who is dissatisfied with the decision of the secretary as a result of the hearing provided in this section may, within thirty days after receiving notice of the decision, petition the circuit court of Kanawha County, in term or in vacation, for judicial review of the decision.
(g) The court may affirm, modify or reverse the decision of the secretary and either the applicant, licensee or registrant, or the secretary may appeal from the court’s decision to the Supreme Court of Appeals.
(h) If the license or registration of a medication-assisted treatment program is denied, suspended or revoked, the medical director of the program, any owner of the program or owner or lessor of the medication-assisted treatment program property shall cease to operate the clinic, facility, office or program as a medication-assisted treatment program as of the effective date of the denial, suspension or revocation. The owner or lessor of the medication-assisted treatment program property is responsible for removing all signs and symbols identifying the premises as a medication-assisted treatment program within thirty days. Any administrative appeal of such denial, suspension or revocation shall not stay the denial, suspension or revocation.
(i) Upon the effective date of the denial, suspension or revocation, the medical director of the medication-assisted treatment program shall advise the secretary and the Board of Pharmacy of the disposition of all medications located on the premises. The disposition is subject to the supervision and approval of the secretary. Medications that are purchased or held by a medication-assisted treatment program that is not licensed may be deemed adulterated.
(j) If the license or registration of a medication-assisted treatment program is suspended or revoked, any person named in the licensing or registration documents of the program, including persons owning or operating the medication-assisted treatment program, may not, as an individual or as part of a group, apply to operate another medication-assisted treatment program for up to five years after the date of suspension or revocation. The secretary may grant a variance pursuant to section six of this article to the prohibition of this subsection.
(k) The period of suspension for the license or registration of a medication-assisted treatment program shall be prescribed by the secretary, but may not exceed one year.