State Senator Laura Wakim Chapman Takes Charge of Health and Human Resources Committee: What This Means for Our Community

|Photo courtesy of WV Legislative Photography| State Sen. Laura Wakim Chapman will serve as chair of the Senate Health and Human Resources committee.

WHEELING – This legislative session, Senator Laura Wakim Chapman will lead discussions on important topics like religious exemptions for school vaccinations, foster care, and healthcare access in West Virginia.

She was appointed chair of the Senate Health and Human Resources Committee, replacing former Senator Mike Maroney, who has a background in medicine. Unlike previous chairs, Chapman is a constitutional attorney but feels prepared for the role.

“Many don’t know I have experience with the Health Department Board in Ohio County, and as a mother, health issues matter deeply to me,” she said.

Chapman highlighted that West Virginia ranks last in health outcomes among all states, with high mortality rates. “If we can improve access to healthcare, we can tackle many of these issues,” she added.

She believes lowering health insurance costs would also benefit many residents, particularly those without transportation to see doctors far from home. “Our medical providers are overwhelmed. We need to attract more healthcare professionals to areas where they’re desperately needed,” she noted.

As chair, Chapman aims to expand insurance options and make healthcare more affordable. She expressed excitement about a new regional cancer center opening in downtown Wheeling, which will improve local care.

“Traveling to specialist appointments is tough for people in rural areas,” she shared. The committee will address not just healthcare, but also mental health and substance abuse issues.

Operations of the State Department of Health and Human Resources are also under the committee’s review. Chapman stated, “Foster care is part of our agenda too, as it involves legal matters we need to understand.”

In a recent development, Governor Patrick Morrisey signed an order allowing religious exemptions for school vaccinations. Chapman will support this bill closely. “It’s significant because 45 other states offer similar exemptions,” she explained.

She pointed out the challenges in obtaining medical exemptions for vaccinations, where decisions could be made by doctors who haven’t examined the children. “The system isn’t working well and needs improvement,” she concluded.