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 […]

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy announces its top five policy priorities for the 2025 Legislative Session, designed to drive economic growth and expand opportunities across the state. “Building off the momentum of recent years, West Virginia can continue advancing transformational policy reforms with this slate of ideas put forth in […]

Turning Potential into Progress Across the Mountain State West Virginia stands on the precipice of a transformative new era—one rich with unprecedented potential. Over the next four years, we are presented with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine the legacy of the Mountain State, moving away from its historical struggles of government overreach and toward a […]

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy today joined a coalition of policy leaders recognizing the failures of West Virginia’s Certificate of Need (CON) laws, which hinder healthcare opportunities and options with unnecessary government red tape. The coalition, composed of policy leaders and advocacy organizations, is united in its commitment to creating […]

The first edition of Convicting CON, authored by Jessica Dobrinsky, was published in January 2022. The following report, Convicting CON: DeCONstruction, is an updated version, incorporating new data, and offers a comprehensive analysis of the detrimental impact of West Virginia’s Certificate of Need (CON) laws on rural communities, the foster care system, and the state’s […]

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The newly released National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) report indicates that West Virginia ranks below the majority of states in academic performance. “Despite West Virginia showing modest improvements in certain areas, the overall outlook for public education remains disconcerting,” Tiffany Hoben, the Cardinal Institute’s Director of Education Partnerships and Strategy, said. “According […]