HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 38
(By Delegates
Williams, Ennis, Argento, Butcher, Hatfield,
Manchin, Manypenny, Marshall, Moore, Moye, Perdue, Pethtel, D.
Poling, Ross, Stephens, Susman, Rowan, Evans, Azinger, Duke,
Hamilton, Shott and Sumner
)
Urging the Bureau for Medical Services to consider increasing
reimbursement rates for the Medicaid Personal Care program and
Waiver Homemaker services.
WHEREAS, West Virginia has the highest per capita percentage
of person sixty years of age and older; and
WHEREAS, The aging population will continue to increase
annually until the year 2020; and
WHEREAS, The aging population lives longer and is more active
as a generation; and
WHEREAS, The cost of nursing home care and other long term
care is prohibitive; and
WHEREAS, When these individuals do need certain levels of
care, it is most desirable to maintain these individuals in their
homes and provide necessary in-home services to maintain their
health, safety and well-being; and
WHEREAS, The county aging programs administered by the Bureau
of Senior Services administer Medicaid Personal Care services and
Waiver Homemaker services to thousands of elderly West Virginians;
and
WHEREAS, This service is essential to the health, safety and
well-being of West Virginia senior citizens; and
WHEREAS, Medicaid Personal Care costs these programs $16.50 -
$17.00 per hour; and
WHEREAS, The Waiver Homemaker program currently costs $18.00
per hour; and
WHEREAS, Because the goal of maintaining our seniors in their
own homes is greatly served by these programs, a rate increase to
$20.00 per hour for Medicaid Personal Care and Waiver Homemaker is
necessary and desirable; and
WHEREAS, The Committee on Senior Citizen Issues hereby does
endorse, encourage and recommend an increase in the reimbursement
rates for Medicaid Personal Care and Waiver Homemaker programs
; and
therefore be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the 79th Legislature of the State of West Virginia hereby
respectfully urges the Bureau for Medical Services to consider
increasing reimbursement rates for the Medicaid Personal Care
program and Waiver Homemaker services; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates
forward certified copies of this resolution to the Chair of the
House Committee on Finance, the Chair of the Senate Committee on
Finance, the Governor of the State of West Virginia, and the
Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.