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Thursday, March 28, 2024

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Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says rebuilding Baltimore's Key Bridge will be challenging and expensive. An Alabama Democrat flips a state legislature seat and former Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman dies at 82.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

WV: Senior Issues

As of March 2023, 65,748,297 people are enrolled in Medicare nationwide, according to the Center for Medicare Advocacy. (Adobe Stock)<br />
WV residents can get help navigating Medicare open enrollment

With just a few weeks left until the end of Medicare open enrollment, experts in West Virginia say now is the time to compare current coverage to …

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Private insurance companies deny more than 248 million claims or pre-authorization requests from their policyholders annually. (Adobe Stock)<br />
Concern mounts over denied claims by health insurers, impact on West Virginians

Congressional Democrats are investigating Medicaid prior authorization practices and denied claims by private health insurers. According to a …

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According to 2021 Census-based data, Medicaid was the most common type of needs-based assistance received by people ages 65 and over. About 10% received Medicaid, either as a supplement or an alternative to Medicare. (Adobe Stock)<br />
Employment Program Helps WV Seniors Increase Income

A West Virginia program helping adults age 55 and older return to the workforce is seeing renewed interest as inflation and high gas prices squeeze th…

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Research shows around a quarter of Americans find it difficult to afford prescription drugs because of high out-of-pocket costs. (Adobe Stock)
Biden’s Insulin Cap is a Start, But WV Residents Can’t Afford Other Prescription Meds

The Inflation Reduction Act signed by President Joe Biden last month caps the cost of insulin at $35 per month for seniors who have Medicare…

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Research shows that elderly adults bounce back faster from illness or injury, with fewer complications, at home than in a hospital. (Adobe Stock)<br />
Biden Administration Aims to Expand Home-Based Care for Medicaid Recipients

Home-based care advocates say they are confident measures outlined in President Joe Biden's now-stalled Build Back Better Act will move forward in som…

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Students, seniors and other West Virginia residents gather in Morgantown, calling on Congress to reform prescription drug prices. (Shane Assadzandi/Linda Benesch)
West Virginians Rally for Fair Prescription Drug Prices

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - West Virginians concerned about the rising cost of drug prices say they want Sen. Joe Manchin - D-W.Va. - to Vote for the Build …

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Seniors experiencing social isolation are at increased risk of dementia, depression, acute and chronic illness, and pre-mature death.(Adobe Stock)
Report: More WV Seniors Isolated; Face Poverty, Lack of Support

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A new America's Health Rankings report shows West Virginia is among the top three states in the nation with the highest number …

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About 20% of West Virginians age 65 and older have been vaccinated, well ahead of the timeline set by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)
Small, Rural Pharmacies Crucial to High WV Vaccination Rate

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - With West Virginia leading the nation in coronavirus vaccinations, one secret to the state's success is having them administered …

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The American Medical Association has voiced support for legislation that would increase access to telemedicine from all types of providers. (Adobe Stock)
Telehealth Visits Skyrocket; Some Insurers Refuse Coverage

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Telehealth visits have jumped nationwide since the onset of the pandemic. Between mid-March and mid-June, an estimated 9 million …

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Medicaid expansion for the Affordable Care Act has helped more West Virginians receive treatment for substance-abuse disorders. (Adobe stock)
ACA Challenge Threatens Loss of Coverage for Thousands in WV

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- As the Supreme Court gets set to hear another challenge to the Affordable Care Act in November, experts say taking away the …

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Voters in West Virginia must now go online to request an application for an absentee ballot. Critics of the system say it's tougher for older voters and those without internet access. (Adobe Stock)
ACLU: Online Absentee-Ballot Process an Obstacle for WV Voters

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The ACLU is calling on West Virginia's secretary of state to automatically mail absentee voter applications, as was done for the …

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Patients can verify if a purported drug shortage is real by checking the Food and Drug Administration's Drug Shortage database. (Dodgerton Skillhause/Morguefile)
What to Do if Prescription Prices Rise Due to COVID-19

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Anecdotal reports show that prices have risen for a number of common drugs because of the COVID-19 crisis. So one senior …

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