H. B. 2221


(By Delegate Kominar)
[Introduced January 9, 2008; referred to the
Committee on Health and Human Resources then Finance.]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §9-5-20 , relating to providing for a pilot project intended to divert low-income residents from early institutionalization in nursing homes by providing personal home care in their communities.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §9-5-20 , to read as follows:
ARTICLE 5. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

§9-5-20. Pilot project to reduce Medicaid budget by reducing early institutionalization.

The Department of Health and Human Resources services shall develop and implement during the fiscal year beginning the first day of July, two thousand seven, a pilot program consisting of a project-based assisted living Medicaid waiver to be allocated to the housing authorities for the cities of Williamson, Wheeling and Moundsville. The pilot program is intended to divert nursing home admission and to pay for services for low-income elderly in their licensed personal care homes. The department may contract directly with the housing authorities in each of these cities to utilize their facilities for Medicaid eligible residents at high risk for nursing home placement.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide for a pilot project intended to divert low-income residents from early institutionalization in nursing homes by providing personal home care in their communities.

This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and underscoring have been omitted.