West Virginia Code of State Rules Agency 210 - Governor's Office Of Health Enhancement And Lifestyle Planning - GOHELP
Overview of GOHELP (Agency 210)
The Governor’s Office of Health Enhancement and Lifestyle Planning (GOHELP) was established to oversee and coordinate initiatives aimed at improving the health and wellness of West Virginians. Its mission included:
Promoting healthy lifestyles through education and preventive programs.
Coordinating health reform across state agencies, bureaus, and offices.
Enhancing public health planning to reduce healthcare costs and improve overall well-being.
The office served as a central authority to streamline health programs and ensure that health initiatives were consistent across the state.
Key Legislative Rule: Series 210-01
The main legislative rule under Agency 210 was Series 210-01, which focused on Prescription Drug Advertising Expense Reporting. This rule aimed to promote transparency in pharmaceutical advertising spending in the state.
Section 210-1-1 – General
This section defined the purpose of the rule, which was to require pharmaceutical companies to report expenditures on advertising prescription drugs.
The goal was to ensure transparency and allow state agencies to monitor promotional activities that could affect public health and healthcare costs.
Section 210-1-2 – Definitions
This section provided clear definitions for key terms used throughout the rule:
Advertising Expenses: All costs related to marketing and promoting prescription drugs, including TV, radio, print, online campaigns, and promotional events.
Prescription Drugs: Medications requiring a doctor’s prescription.
Reporting Entities: Pharmaceutical companies or distributors required to submit reports of their advertising expenses.
These definitions ensured that all parties understood exactly what needed to be reported.
Section 210-1-3 – Required Disclosures
Companies were required to report specific advertising expenses, such as:
Costs for direct-to-consumer advertising (TV, radio, print, online).
Promotional materials distributed to healthcare providers.
Costs related to marketing campaigns that influence prescribing patterns.
This ensured that the state had accurate data on pharmaceutical marketing, helping policymakers understand trends and potential impacts on healthcare spending.
Section 210-1-4 – Discretionary Disclosures
Allowed companies to report additional expenses voluntarily, providing a more complete picture of advertising and marketing practices.
While not mandatory, these disclosures encouraged greater transparency and accountability in pharmaceutical marketing.
Appendix A – Reporting Form
Contained the official form that companies needed to complete.
Required details such as:
Total advertising expenses by category.
Geographic areas targeted.
Types of media used.
Specific drugs promoted.
Standardized the reporting process and made it easier for the state to analyze and compare data.
Repeal of GOHELP
In 2015, the West Virginia Legislature passed legislation to repeal GOHELP.
Its responsibilities were transferred to other state agencies, and the office itself was disbanded.
After repeal, the rules under Series 210-01 were no longer actively enforced, but historical data and records of the program remain part of the state archives.
Key Takeaways
GOHELP was focused on public health enhancement and lifestyle planning.
Its main active rule (Series 210-01) promoted transparency in prescription drug advertising.
The office coordinated health reform initiatives across multiple state agencies.
Although GOHELP has been repealed, its historical framework helped set standards for transparency and accountability in public health initiatives and pharmaceutical marketing.
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