Federal Bill Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

West Virginia Senators Urge Passage of Miners' Benefit Bill

West Virginia’s U.S. senators say they have joined 20 colleagues in a letter to Senate and House leaders calling for the passage this year of legislation to protect health care for 12,500 retired coal miners.

Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito say retirees and their families will otherwise lose health care coverage Dec. 31.

Manchin, a Democrat, and Capito, a Republican, are joined on the letter by a mix of senators from both parties.

According to the lawmakers, the retired miners are facing financial uncertainty because the United Mine Workers of America 1974 Pension Plan is severely underfunded.

The Miners Protection Act would transfer money from the Abandoned Mine Land fund and make certain retirees eligible who lose health care following the insolvency of his or her employer.

Proposed Bill Offers Care Options for Opioid-Addicted Babies

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito introduced a federal bill Friday with bipartisan backing that would help newborns suffering from Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome have access to quality care.

The Caring Recovery for Infants and Babies Act, also known as CRIB, would recognize residential pediatric recovery facilities as providers under Medicaid.

This means the families whose newborns are born with NAS will be able to bill Medicaid for the services offered.

According to a news release from Senator Capito’s office, the bill would not cost additional dollars but would allow babies to receive quality treatment in the best environment.

Newborns with NAS often require specialized care like longer hospital stays at the NICU, or neonatal intensive care unit. Treatment can cost five times more than the cost of treating other newborns.

CRIB would expand access to allow alternative settings to the NICU.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, with support from the Benedum Foundation.

Capito Introduces Bill to Study Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito is sponsoring a federal bill to examine the rising rate and treatment costs of neonatal abstinence syndrome or NAS.

Senator Capito introduced the bi-partisan bill Friday, along with two other U.S. senators.

According to a news release, The Nurturing and Supporting Healthy Babies Act will expand research into NAS and how to care for affected infants. It will also provide ways to study the prevalence of the syndrome.

Newborns with NAS require specialized care that can result in longer hospital stays and increased costs. A recent study found these costs can be more than five times the cost of caring for other newborns.