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West Virginia's Reimbursement Statute: The Hidden Costs Of Institutionalization, Samme L. Gee

West Virginia Law Review

"Fate makes our relatives... ", The treatment, care and maintenance received by the mentally ill and the mentally retarded in state hospitals do not fall into the traditional category of public welfare. Unlike other programs which assist the disadvantaged, most mental health laws impose a statutory duty on the recipient or his family to reimburse the state for all or part of the maintenance and treatment costs. West Virginia is among the jurisdictions which have adopted such laws. This state has statutory provisions5 which require reimbursement from the patient and designated family members. The amount the patient, or his family, …