§16-5B-16. Public notice regarding the closure of a licensed health care facility or hospital.
Any hospital, extended care facility operated in connection with a hospital, ambulatory health care facility, or ambulatory surgical facility freestanding or operated in connection with a hospital, licensed in the State of West Virginia under this article that intends to terminate operations shall provide at least three weeks notice of such intent to the public prior to the actual termination of operations. Pursuant to the provisions of Article 3 of Chapter 59 of this code, the hospital or facility shall cause a Class III legal advertisement to be published in all qualified newspapers of general circulation where the hospital or facility is geographically located. The first publication of the Class III legal advertisement shall occur at least three weeks prior to the date the hospital or facility intends to terminate operations. The Class III legal advertisement shall include, but is not limited to, a statement, along with the specific or proximate date, that the hospital, extended care facility operated in connection with a hospital, ambulatory health care facility, or ambulatory surgical facility freestanding or operated in connection with a hospital, intends to terminate operations.