WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HCR 29

Requesting Joint Committee study the feasibility of establishing a flexible, short-duration, on-demand respite care program for seniors and caregivers

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Stan Adkins and 28 co-sponsors

HCR 29 seeks a study on a flexible, on-demand respite care option for seniors and caregivers, including costs, pilots, funding, and program modification feasibility.

To House Rules
#resolutions(interimstudy)
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HCR 29

Overview

  • Bill: HCR 29 (House Concurrent Resolution)
  • Session: 2026
  • Jurisdiction: West Virginia
  • Purpose: Request the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study the feasibility of establishing a flexible, short-duration, on-demand respite care program for seniors and caregivers.

What the bill does

  • HCR 29 formalizes a request to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to conduct a study examining the feasibility of creating a new respite care model in West Virginia.
  • The proposed model would provide flexible, on-demand, short-duration respite services for eligible seniors and their caregivers, with advance notice (e.g., one week) and limited hours as needed.

Key provisions and study areas

The resolution directs the committee to study and report on the following topics:

  1. Cost comparison

    • Compare the cost of flexible respite care versus nursing home placement, including long-term Medicaid expenditures.

  2. Potential savings

    • Assess savings from delaying or preventing institutionalization through targeted short-term support.

  3. Program modification options

    • Evaluate whether existing programs (e.g., Lighthouse Program, Medicaid Aged and Disabled Waiver) can be adjusted to allow hourly or fractional utilization without mandatory weekly minimums.

  4. Pilot design options

    • Explore the feasibility of a pilot voucher-based or registry-based caregiver pool administered through county aging providers, with a focus on rural counties.

  5. Funding mechanisms

    • Identify potential funding sources, including Medicaid waivers, federal participation, or targeted state appropriations.

  6. Workforce considerations

    • Assess rural workforce capacity and strategies to recruit and retain part-time respite providers.

  7. Oversight and accountability

    • Propose appropriate safeguards to ensure fiscal responsibility and prevent abuse.

Who would be affected

  • Eligible seniors and their family caregivers who may benefit from flexible, short-duration respite services.
  • Rural counties, where access to respite services and providers is more limited, could see particular impact through pilot programs and provider recruitment strategies.
  • State-funded programs related to aging, Medicaid waivers, and home- and community-based services may be analyzed for potential modifications.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Status: Introduced March 5, 2026; referred to the Committee on Rules.
  • Action requested: The Joint Committee on Government and Finance is asked to complete and report its findings, conclusions, and any recommended legislation before the next regular session of the West Virginia Legislature.
  • Outcome: As a concurrent resolution, it directs a study and does not itself create new law, but it could lead to proposed legislation based on the study’s findings.

Additional context

  • The resolution highlights demographic factors (West Virginia’s aging population) and care dynamics where existing programs often require weekly minimums or longer-term blocks that may not align with intermittent needs.
  • It underscores potential cost savings to taxpayers by reducing premature nursing home placement and related Medicaid spending, while enabling seniors to stay at home with dignity.
  • Acknowledges rural challenges in provider availability, transportation, and private-pay alternatives.

Summary

HCR 29 seeks to initiate a statewide study of a flexible, on-demand respite care option for seniors and caregivers in West Virginia. The study would compare costs and savings, assess modifications to current programs, explore pilot funding and administration models (including vouchers or registry systems), evaluate rural workforce capacity, and establish oversight measures. The ultimate goal is to determine whether such a program could be feasible and beneficial, with findings and any recommended legislation to be reported before the next regular session.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.