Daily Coronavirus Update - April 13, 2020

" I've always believed in the idea of retail government - of bringing the government to you at home in West Virginia and making your ideas heard in Washington. That working relationship is what's going to get us through these tough times. If you have updates for testing locations or questions about the resources available to you, I want to hear them at common_sense@manchin.senate.gov. Stay West Virginia Strong. "

- Joe

Be sure to check out our newly redesigned COVID-19 website.

WV STRONG

I was always taught that if you can count your blessings, you can share your blessings. It's my privilege to share some inspirational stories from those on the ground who are donating their time and energy to helping their fellow West Virginians. These are just a few of the countless acts of kindness happening in our state every single day. Share your stories or recommend someone to be recognized for being WV Strong by emailing WVSTRONG@manchin.senate.gov.

I want to thank Shalee Shumiloff for sending me today’s Better Angel, Ben Shumiloff.

Since it is Autism Awareness Month, Shalee wanted to share the story of how her son, Ben, is being WV Strong through this tough time. Shalee said that with school closed, she feared that a lack of normal routines would throw him for a loop. But in Shalee’s words:

“He is doing word searches, math, painting and watching his favorite shows. He loves his puppy. He asks a lot of questions. He wants to fill in the dates on his calendar. He loves to FaceTime to keep connected to those he loves and misses. But he never complains. He keeps on smiling. I feared Autism would have a negative impact on him during this. It isn’t. I think he is actually enjoying the slower pace and our time at home as a family. This has all shown me to appreciate the little things that have been lost in the hectic world we were living in. When this is all over, I hope we all come out better people, with greater appreciation for the fine details of life. Those are details Ben sees every day, but that we often overlook. We hope everyone can keep smiling!  Ben sure is and his smile is contagious!”

Ben truly is WV Strong and I wish him the very best.

WORKING FOR YOU

MANCHIN ASKS DOL, HHS FOR CLEAR COVID-19 GUIDANCE FOR BLACK LUNG CLINICS

Charleston, WV – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) asked the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Eugene Scalia and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar to immediately provide clinics and the miners they serve with clear, written guidance regarding how miner’s black lung benefit claims will be processed during the COVID-19 pandemic and what specific flexibilities are being instituted to ensure miners do not lose access to essential benefits and treatment through no fault of their own.  

“Many miners rely on black lung clinics for assistance with medical diagnoses, treatment and education as well as for assistance with filing claims for Black Lung Program benefits. These clinics are spread across coal mining states and serve as lifelines for many miners and their families, particularly those living in rural communities. Black lung clinics, funded and overseen by HHS, work closely with DOL to ensure miners’ claims for Black Lung Program benefits are correctly submitted and contain all necessary evidence and supporting materials. COVID-19 has necessitated many changes to standard operating procedures to protect the health of miners and clinic staff. These steps are needed, but they have also created a great deal of uncertainty surrounding how cases should be processed and how critical services and treatments will be provided,” the Senator said in part.

Read the full letter here.

MANCHIN: WEST VIRGINIA DID NOT GET OUR FAIR SHARE OF HEALTHCARE FUNDING

Charleston, WV –  U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the first allotment of designated healthcare provider funding through the CARES Act. Of the $30 billion released today, West Virginia received $246.5 million for 1,772 providers - less than 1% of the total money released. This week, Senator Manchin led a bipartisan letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar pushing for rural provider funding to be prioritized as COVID-19 relief funding was distributed.

“We appreciate every dollar that is allocated to help our West Virginia health care providers but it is heartbreaking for the state with the most at risk population to receive less than 1% of the total money released today. Our rural hospitals and providers are the first line of defense in the communities they serve and we cannot risk insolvency, especially at a time like this. Our providers in West Virginia deserve the same level of attention as the larger providers throughout the country. I will continue to work to ensure the next round of funding is distributed based on my formula that targets rural health providers and providers serving our most vulnerable populations,” Senator Manchin said.

A timeline of Senator Manchin’s actions throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic can be found here.

MANCHIN URGES USDA TO PROVIDE RELIEF FOR WEST VIRGINIA FARMERS

Charleston, WV – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) joined a bipartisan group of 33 senators in urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide relief and direct payments to farmers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, the Senators urge the USDA to protect the small and medium sized producer who depend on direct markets, many of which have been closed to encourage social distancing, to reach consumers. 

“We urge you to protect the rich diversity of American agriculture by working with producers who supply local markets to tailor USDA relief efforts to their needs. To do this, we respectfully request that you provide payments to local food producers for lost revenue and additional cost incurred by the COVID-19 disaster,” the Senators said in part.

Read the full letter here.

MANCHIN, CAPITO ANNOUNCE FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS IMPACTED BY CORONAVIRUS

CHARLESTON, WV – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced the potential for $66,559,082 from the U.S. Department of Education for Higher Education Institutions West Virginia. Specifically, the funding, which was made possible following President Donald J. Trump’s signing of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), can provide direct emergency cash grants to college students who have been directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic through the discretion of their university or college.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically impacted West Virginia and the way we are educating our students. That is why I fought so hard to secure $30 billion for our students and our schools in the CARES Act, which is over $10 billion more than the initial proposal. In West Virginia, schools are transitioning to online classes and other virtual learning opportunities, but many students don’t have access to reliable broadband, making it nearly impossible to keep up with other students. The coronavirus pandemic caused sudden but necessary changes in every aspect of our lives. Today, I am pleased the Department of Education will be delivering these emergency cash grants to students through their higher education programs, but it is important to remember that this is only the first installment. We have a lot of work yet to do to help ease the burden so many of our students are facing,” said Senator Manchin.

MANCHIN, CAPITO CALL ON SENATE LEADERSHIP TO EXPAND ACCESS TO CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FOR PUBLIC HOSPITALS

Charleston, WV – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) led a bipartisan group of nine Senators in urging Senate leadership to clarify eligibility for publicly owned hospitals and similar care providers within the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) administered by the U.S. Small Business Association (SBA). Currently, both for-profit and non-profit hospitals are eligible for assistance, creating a disparity this letter seeks to resolve. The PPP was provided an additional $350 billion in the Phase III Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to support businesses impacted by COVID-19. In response to cautionary guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), many hospitals are canceling routine procedures and appointments, resulting in revenue declines as high as 80 percent. Over the past decade, 128 hospitals have closed and an additional 450 hospitals are at-risk of closure. The COVID-19 pandemic puts public hospitals at an increased risk of closure.

The Senators said in part, “Our small rural hospitals regularly struggle with their razor-thin margins but are now facing difficult choices that range from significant staff furloughs to permanently closing the doors of their community’s lone hospital. Many of these hospitals are small, county-owned public hospitals who are currently denied access to funding included by Congress in the CARES Act. We ask that you clarify that publicly owned hospitals and similar care providers are eligible entities for the Paycheck Protection Program relief program administered by the Small Business Administration.”

Read the full letter here.

WV 211

U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) is encouraging West Virginians to utilize the 2-1-1 program operated by United Way of West Virginia. 2-1-1 connects callers with health and human services resources through trained certified specialists. Anyone can call 2-1-1 to learn about specific programs, intake requirements, eligibility, operation hours and more.

“United Way of West Virginia provides an important service to West Virginians by helping users navigate the vast number of resources available to aid with healthcare issues, food shortages, mental health questions and more. This program is more important now than ever as we battle the COVID-19 pandemic and I commend United Way for continuing to serve their fellow West Virginians through this time,” Senator Manchin said.

“United Way’s new 2-1-1 will make information on a wide variety of local support services more accessible across our entire state,” said United Way of Central WV President, Margaret O’Neal. “Whether it’s information for locating a health clinic, finding child care programs, or getting housing assistance, 2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember, go-to resource for individuals and families.”

To utilize these resources West Virginians can:

Call 2-1-1
Text your zip code to 898-211
Visit http://www.wv211.org/contact
Call toll-free 1-833-848-9905

RESOURCES

Our office is working diligently to bring you the most up-to-date information as it becomes available. Click the links below for more information. All information regarding resources and more can be found on Senator Manchin's website. 

Unemployment

Veterans Assistance

Basic Needs

Business Assistance

Volunteer

Feeling Ill?

Any new or updated information will be posted below.

Direct Payments To West Virginians

To address unforeseen financial challenges not covered by expanded Unemployment Insurance benefits or modified Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, the bill authorizes direct payments of $1,200 for individuals and $2,400 for couples. Families are also eligible for an additional $500 per child. Working class Americans that file their taxes will receive a direct payment. Those who are on Social Security or otherwise do not file income taxes will receive their payment in the form of check.

An individual is eligible for the full benefit if they make less than $75,000 per year. Couples and other joint filers are eligible if their combined annual income is less than $150,000. Above that threshold, benefits will be reduced by $5 for every $100 of income and phased out entirely for those making $99,000 or more ($198,000 for couples).

Any individual making $99,000 or more per year will not receive any direct payment. Any couple or other joint filers making $198,000 or more per year will not receive any direct payment.

Individuals that receive form SSA-1099, which includes those that are receiving Old-Age, Survivor, and Disability (OASDI) benefits through Social Security, and individuals that receive form RRB-1099, which includes those that have worked in jobs covered by the Railroad Retirement Act, will be eligible for the stimulus check and will not be required to fill out any additional tax documents. Social Security recipients and railroad retirees who have dependents under the age of 17 can use a new IRS tool online to register to claim the additional $500 per dependent they are eligible to receive.

For all others who do not normally file their taxes, including seniors and some veterans who do not normally file tax returns, they are also eligible to receive a check; however, in order to receive the stimulus payment, an individual that falls into one of these categories will need to file a simple tax return for 2019.

To help millions of people, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service launched a new web tool allowing quick registration for Economic Impact Payments for those who don’t normally file a tax return.

The non-filer tool, developed in partnership between the IRS and the Free File Alliance, provides a free and easy option designed for people who don’t have a return filing obligation, including those with too little income to file. The feature is available only on IRS.gov, and users should look for Non-filers: Enter Payment Info Here to take them directly to the tool.

The tool will request basic information to confirm eligibility, calculate and send the Economic Impact Payments: 

Full names and Social Security numbers, including for spouse and dependents
Mailing address
Bank account type, account and routing numbers
To access the non-filer tool, click here: https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/non-filers-enter-payment-info-here

TESTING / COLLECTION LOCATIONS

This is the main question my office is receiving: Where can I get a test? Please note that this is not a comprehensive list; there may be more testing sites out there that are added daily.  In order to provide as much reliable information as possible, I am including testing sites that are verified through an official communication or news release.

I will keep this section of my newsletter and my website as up-to-date as possible.  For any organizations or health care organizations who would like their site listed, or who have updates on their hours or requirements, please email me at common_sense@manchin.senate.gov .

It is recommended that you seek testing only when you begin exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. Click here to view the screening criteria. To report your symptoms and be directed to one of the available testing sites, contact your primary care doctor or a designated hotline for your area. Most, if not all, sites require a physician's order before testing. If you have gone through these steps and are still having issues getting a test, please email me at common_sense@manchin.senate.gov and a member of my staff will reach out to you to see if we can assist.

Click here for WV DHHR's latest updates to reported COVID-19 cases

Click here to find a testing site near you.

Any new additions or updates will be included below.

CLAY
LOCATION: Clay County Health Department, 452 Main Street, Clay, WV 25043
HOURS: Mon-Fri, 8 am-4 pm
PHONE NUMBER: 304-587-4269

Pre-screening is done over the phone before receiving a test.

FAIRMONT
LOCATION: Mon Health Primary Care Offices of Drs. Bonfili and Flowers, 1840 Locust Avenue, Fairmont
HOURS: Testing is now open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3pm – 6pm

Please note that individuals interested in receiving a test are required to contact Mon Health Patient Outreach at 304-285-3798 for pre-screening and must indicate they would like to be tested in Fairmont.

LYBURN
Location: Logan Mingo Area Mental Health, Ralph R. Willis Career and Technical Center, Three Mile Curve, Lyburn WV 25632
Hours: 11am – 3 pm Monday - Saturday

If possible, visitors should bring proper identification, a doctor’s test referral and current health insurance information. For anyone who may be symptomatic but does not already have a doctor’s test referral, LMAMH can provide immediate access to a provider for a referral on-site. Even those who, for any reason, do not have identification or health insurance information will still be processed through the drive-thru.

MORGANTOWN
LOCATION: Mon Health Medical Center main campus in the SurgiCare South entrance.
HOURS: Monday-Friday 10am – 2pm.

Before coming, patients must pre-screen and pre-register by calling the COVID-19 Patient Outreach Line at (304) 285-3798. 

CONTACT US

Email: common_sense@manchin.senate.gov  

Social Media: Facebook     Twitter     YouTube

Or call the Charleston Office Toll-Free: (855) 275-5737