West Virginia’s Certificate of Need Laws Are Failing You The West Virginia Hospital Association’s recent op-ed defending West Virginia’s Certificate of Need (CON) laws is a masterclass in elite protectionism, dressed in concern, framed as a noble stand for community health. Make no mistake—the heart of the piece is about hospital bottom lines rather than how […]

CARDINAL INSTITUTE UNVEILS LANDMARK REPORT CALLING FOR OVERHAUL OF WEST VIRGINIA’S K–12 CIVICS STANDARDS   CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy today announces the release of a new policy paper calling for a comprehensive revitalization of West Virginia’s K-12 civic education standards.  The paper, titled “Reviving the American Civic Tradition in West Virginia,” […]

Reviving the American Civic Tradition in West Virginia is a groundbreaking policy report from the Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy that calls for a bold overhaul of the state’s K–12 civic education standards. Authored by Tiffany Hoben, Director of Education Partnerships and Strategy, the report outlines a content-rich, age-appropriate roadmap that integrates civics, U.S. […]

Colleges Must Educate for Freedom A great American college or university will prepare students for self-governance as both a wise human being and a prudent, productive citizen. Rightly understood, the liberal arts are the intellectual potentials shared by the leaders of a free people. That is, education policy should consider, first of all, how to […]

Authors: Simon Hakim, Ph.D., Center for Competitive Government, and Department of Economics, Temple Ryan Hanlon, Ph.D., National Council For Adoption Brian Meehan, Ph.D, Campbell School of Business, Berry College

The public comment, authored by Cardinal Institute Chief of Staff Jessica Dobrinsky, supports the repeal of West Virginia’s Certificate of Need (CON) laws. In response to Executive Order 14219, which seeks to reduce regulatory overreach, the comment argues that eliminating CON laws would enhance healthcare access and foster greater competition across the state.

Top-Down Healthcare: The Dangers of CON and Centralized Planning In 1968, Marina was a young gymnast in the Ukrainian republic of the former Soviet Union. As is common in that sport, she sustained an ankle injury. Anyone who has a twisted ankle knows that there’s a fifty-fifty chance it’s either sprained or broken, and the […]

Universal Licensing Recognition and Why West Virginia Needs It What is occupational licensing? Fundamentally, an occupational license is a permission slip from the government to work. About 1 out of 5 workers in the United States require an occupational license to practice in their given profession. For those occupations requiring a license, performing such work […]

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy releases a new research report examining how Certificate of Need (CON) laws restrict access to healthcare in the state, limiting patient options and exacerbating care disparities. “With a focus on improving cost, quality and accessibility in healthcare, it didn’t take long to uncover the truth […]

Governor Morrisey’s 2025 State of the State Address: An Analysis On the evening of Wednesday, February 12, 2025, Gov. Patrick Morrisey delivered his first State of the State address. An annual tradition, the address is largely intended to set the tone for the upcoming legislative session and present the governing agenda for the year. One-half […]