Money Follows the Person UPDATE

HB 4473 did not pass out of the Senate Health and Human Resources Committee.

However, the Senate Committee on Health and Human Resources originated a study resolution (Senate Concurrent Resolution 88) that completed legislative action on March 11, 2006 that calls for the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability (LOCHHRA) to work on this issue over Interims. Ann Meadows, Executive Director of the WV Statewide Independent Living Council reports the resolution is very strong and requires specific outcomes. Senator Prezioso, Chairman of the committee, made a public commitment to work with the disability community and to develop legislation for next year.

Thank you to the advocates who contacted committee members in an effort to educate our legislators! Advocates, will again, have the opportunity to educate our legislators and share personal stories during the 2006 Legislative Interims on the importance of the "Money Follows the Person" legislation.

Senate Concurrent Resolution Number 88

(By Senators Prezioso, Unger, Bailey, Edgell, Foster, Hunter, Jenkins, McCabe, Sharpe, Barnes, Boley, Caruth, Guills and Weeks)
[Originating in the Committee on Health and Human Resources]

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance direct the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability study the feasibility of allowing administrative transfer of payments to eligible individuals to transition from institutional settings to community-based services.

Whereas, As many as 2,000 West Virginians with disabilities currently live in nursing homes and have a desire to live in the community; and
Whereas, Nursing homes may not be the most efficient way to provide care and support; and
Whereas, Society would benefit if all citizens could, as much as possible, live independently; and
Whereas, The concept of "money following the person" is a national movement designed to lessen the reliance of states on institutional provider models in fiscal preference to models of community support; and
Whereas, West Virginia has a history of deinstitutionalization and has demonstrated that "money following the person" is a viable and efficacious method of providing support through the closure of the Colin Anderson Center and the movement of those residents to the community; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to direct the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability to study the feasibility of allowing administrative transfer of payments to eligible individuals to transition from institutional settings to community- based services; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability consult with representatives of the Department of Health and Human Resources, advocates of community-based support, the Statewide Independent Living Council, the Olmstead Advisory Council, the Developmental Disabilities Council and other interested groups or individuals in studying the concept of "money following the person" to develop policies to illustrate how the program can be rebalanced to increase the use of home- and community-based support services and enhance alternatives to institutional settings that consider the quality of life and preference of eligible individuals; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability shall strive, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Resources, advocates of community-based support, the Statewide Independent Living Council, the Olmstead Advisory Council, the Developmental Disabilities Council and other interested groups or individuals, to develop strategies to eliminate barriers or mechanisms that prevent or restrict, whether in state law or the state Medicaid plan, the state to enable eligible individuals to receive support for appropriate and necessary long-term services in the setting of their choice; and, be it
Further Resolved, In its work on this issue, the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability shall remain mindful of federal fiscal limitations, financial and personal needs, preferences and quality of life of those persons transitioning to a community-based system and the impact on the system as a whole; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability report to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance on or before the thirty-first day of January, 2007, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.

Legislative Alert: HB 4473 - Call Today!

Establishing the Money Follows the Person Act - March 7, 2006

The purpose of this bill is to establish the Money Follows the Person Act, which would allow funding currently supporting individuals in nursing homes or other institutional settings to follow those individuals into community-based services and supports.

HB 4473 passed out of the House on March 1, 2006. The bill is now in the Senate Health and Human Resources Committee. The Committee MUST pass it out of committee, so the whole Senate can vote on it. Please call Senate Health and Human Resource Committee members TODAY and ask committee members to urge Committee Chairman Prezioso to put this bill on their agenda and pass it out of committee to the full Senate with the recommendation it do pass.

Senate Health and Human Resource Committee members include:

Chairman Roman Prezioso
Vice Chair John Unger, II
Senators Bailey, Barnes, Boley, Caruth, Edgell, Foster, Guills, Hunter, Jenkins, McCabe, Sharpe and Weeks.

You can call committee members toll free at 1-877-565-3447.

Read story published in Charleston Gazette on Sunday, March 5, 2006

Updated: March 11, 2006