WV Centers for Independent Living
Legislative Priorities 2009

It is with appreciation and thanks to the WV Legislature that the WV Centers for Independent Living (WVCIL) provides this report. Through your support and recognition of the needs of West Virginians with disabilities and by increasing the funding in the independent living line item of the WV Division of Rehabilitation Services' budget in 2008 we were able to serve 150 people with disabilities in 2008.

Today 150 West Virginians with disabilities remain in their homes and communities, 27 of whom were at risk of institutionalization. This represents a savings to the state of approximately 2.1 million dollars in nursing home care annually.

WVCIL requests that the WV Legislature continue to support basic independent living services that are critical to the lives of the over 400,000 individuals with disabilities in West Virginia. The WVCIL is supporting the improvement package submitted by the WV Division of Rehabilitation Services to increase the independent living services line item budget to 1 million dollars to address our ever growing waiting list for the Community Living Services Program and expand independent living services into unserved areas of our state.

The purpose of the Community Living Services Program (CLSP) is to "ensure that West Virginians with disabilities have equal access to the resources and supports they need to live self-determined, independent lives in their own homes and communities."

Uses of Funding in FY 2008:

The WV Division of Rehabilitation Services contracted with the WV Centers for Independent Living to provide independent living services to West Virginians with disabilities.

$198,614 in federal IL funding;
$237,500 in state IL funding (TWO QUARTERS ONLY); and
$103,647 in third party resources leveraged (Medicaid, Medicare, Lions Clubs, churches, USDA Rural Housing Development Program, Veteran's Administration, grants, family donations, etc.) in FY 2008 were used to provide such IL services as:
- Home Modifications
- Assistive Devices and Equipment
- Communication Services
- Vehicle Modifications
- Durable Medical Equipment
- And other IL services that enable individuals to live independently

Statistics of West Virginians with disabilities and their independent living service needs:

Total number of people served in FY 2008: 150
Approximately 313 people with disabilities across West Virginia are currently on a waiting list - with a wait time of at least 2 years
Fifteen individuals with disabilities died in FY 2008 waiting for independent living services - having waited for services for at least 2 years
Average cost per person in FY 2008: $2,500
Average estimated cost per person in FY 2009: $5,000
During FY 2008, 27 people at risk of institutionalization were successfully served enabling them to remain in their homes, saving the state $2.1 million dollars in nursing home care. In FY 2007 16 people at risk were successfully served, at a savings of $1.3 million dollars in nursing home care. ($80,300 per year per person in 2007 dollars as cited from the AARP Web site)
44 individuals on the current waiting list are at risk of institutionalization if they do not receive services through the CLSP program, which could potentially cost the state $3.5 million dollars in nursing home care annually. At the end of FY 2007, there were 12 people on the waiting list who were at risk, which potentially saved the state $964,000.

2008 Average Cost of Independent Living Services per Person

Bathroom Modifications: $10,000
Ramps: $3,500
Vehicle Modifications: $8,000
Assistive Technology: $3,000
Communication Devices: $3,500
Durable Medical Equipment: $1,200

NOTE: The average costs per year will fluctuate as the requests are added to the waiting list. If the number one request is bathroom modifications, the average cost is higher. If communication devices would be the number one request for the year, the average cost will be lower.

Total Number of Successfully Completed Independent Living Services provided in 2008 include:

13 individuals received vehicle modifications (6 successfully completed in 2007)
29 individuals received durable medical equipment (13 successfully completed in 2007)
52 individuals received home modifications (50 successfully completed in 2007)
64 individuals received assistive technology (76 successfully completed in 2007)
6 individuals received communication devices (0 successfully completed in 2007)

Number of Successfully Completed Independent Living Services provided with WV State Funds for two quarters in 2009 include: (State funds received for two FY 2009 quarters totals $237,500.)

6 individuals received Vehicle Modifications
13 individuals received durable medical equipment
23 individuals received home modifications
28 individuals received assistive technology
3 individuals received communication devices

As of February 15, 2009, there are 313 people on the CLSP waiting list. (September 30, 2007 waiting list total was 400)

Contact

For more information contact Brenda Goodfellow, WVCIL Coordinator, at 304-771-3466 (cell) or 304-652-2116 or bgoodfellow@mtstcil.org.

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WV Centers for Independent LivingLegislative Priorities 2009

Uses of Funding in FY 2008:

2008 Average Cost of Independent Living Services per Person

Contact

WV Centers for Independent Living
Legislative Priorities 2009