West Virginia Code 9-4D-1 – Legislative findings
(a) The Legislature finds that there are many individuals in this state who have disabilities that qualify them for state or federal assistance and who are nonetheless willing and able to enter the workforce, but do not do so out of fear of losing essential medical care. As a result, the state realizes increased costs in fully supporting these disabled individuals who, in turn, suffer under an additional disability of being deprived of the additional income, dignity and self-sufficiency derived by being engaged in competitive employment.
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 9-4D-1
- Assistance: means the three classes of assistance, namely: Federal-state assistance, federal assistance and state assistance. See West Virginia Code 9-1-2
- Disability: means a medically determinable physical or mental condition that:
(A) Can be expected to result in death or has lasted, or can be expected to last, for a continuous period of not less than twelve months. See West Virginia Code 9-4D-2
- Federal assistance: means and includes all forms of aid, care, assistance and services to or on behalf of persons, which are authorized by, and who are authorized to receive the same under and by virtue of, any act of Congress for distribution through the state division of human services or the Department of Human Services, the cost of which is paid entirely out of federal appropriations. See West Virginia Code 9-1-2
- Income: means money earned from employment wages or self-employment earnings and unearned money received from any other source. See West Virginia Code 9-4D-2
- State: when applied to a part of the United States and not restricted by the context, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" also include the said district and territories. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
(b) The Legislature finds that establishing a Medicaid buy-in program for certain individuals with disabilities will assist them in becoming independent of public assistance by enabling them to enter the workforce without fear of losing essential medical care.