Seniors

Accomplishments of the 2004 – 2008

Dedicated more money than ever before to senior services
$10 million for the Aged and Disabled Waiver
$1 million for Alzheimer’s Respite Care
$150,000 to the West Virginia Elder Watch program
$3.7 million for in-home services and nutrition
Doubled the senior citizen refundable property tax credit
Worked with groups such as AARP and the West Virginia Primary Care Association to develop the only state-sponsored call center in the country dedicated to helping seniors understand and enroll in the Medicare Prescription Drug Program

Highlights of the 2008 Session

House Bill 101 (TDC - TRS transfer) would allow transfer of assets from the Teachers’ Defined Contribution (TDC) to the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS) if at least 65 percent of the actively contributing TDC members elect to do so.  The TRS guarantees a pension based on final salaries and

Senate Bill 239 (taxation) adds a new article creating the Senior Citizen Tax Deferment Act, which allows senior citizens whose homestead meets certain requirements and are age 65 or older that own certain homesteads to defer any increase of property tax ad valorem over $3,000.00 or 10 percent or more.

Highlights of the 2007 Session

House Bill 2944 (hospice care) provides that if a resident of a nursing home declines into terminal illness, the facility must inform the resident of the option of receiving hospice care. If that resident is incapacitated, the facility must notify the resident’s appointed guardian. Also, the facility has to document any time this action is undertaken.

House Bill 3057 (elder care) facilitates the organization of the federally funded Program for All-inclusive Care for the Elderly, or PACE. The program creates a locally managed health care delivery system that supplies primary, preventative, restorative, supportive, and end-of-life care to elderly persons certified by the state as nursing-home eligible.

Highlights of the 2006 Session

Reducing PEIA Premium Increases - Democrats worked to cut in half the PEIA increases scheduled for July 1st.

Increasing Retiree Benefits - Democrats supported a much needed retirement supplement to thousands of retirees and dedicated more than $700 million to fund pension obligations that for many years have been under funded.

 Legislation Effecting Seniors and Families passed 1992 - 2008

- Provided a stable source of funding for senior citizen centers, transportation and meals programs.

- Passed legislation to allow grandparents the right to see their grandchildren in cases of divorce or separation.

- Passed Homestead Exemption tax cut.

- Passed legislation to allow individuals to make decision about health care.

- COLAs for retired teachers and public employees.

- Established the Affordable Housing Trust Fund

- Established Children's Visitation and Monitoring and Exchange Centers.

- Passed all-terrain vehicle safety regulations.

- Passed eminent domain law that limits government authority to take property for private development.

- Passed law to define marriage as between a man and a woman only.

- Passed sweeping mine safety laws.

- Passed a comprehensive Patients Bill of Rights.

- Passed law that insurance companies cannot deny coverage for emergency room visits that prove non-life threatening.

- Provide assistance to victims of domestic violence by requiring perpetrator to cover care costs.

- Created a rural health care clinic system.

- Required insurance companies to cover mammograms and pap smears.

- Extended Medicaid benefits to uninsured women with breast or cervical cancer

- Saved PEIA from collapse and paid backlog of claims.

- Guaranteed state physicians insurance coverage.

- Passed the smokeless tobacco tax

- Passed legislation to lower prescription drug prices. Also establishes a low-income clearing house for free drugs and creates a discount card.

- Passed medical malpractice tort reform to keep doctors in West Virginia.

- Developed a low cost pre-paid health care program and discounted basic health insurance plans.