Opinion ID: 1359409
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Hewitt I: Abuse and Neglect Cases

Text: With specific regard to abuse and neglect cases, the Hewitt I Court resolved that issue on appeal by addressing the DHHR's authority to establish fees for services of experts in abuse and neglect cases and the authority of the trial courts to set and approve fees for such expert services and testimony. This Court held that the DHHR was liable for the payment orders in abuse and neglect cases and that it was required to pay for the services at the rate established by the trial court, unless the order under consideration was entered after June 7, 2002, the effective date of West Virginia Code § 49-7-33 (2002) (Repl.Vol.2004). [1] That statute provides that the DHHR shall set the fee schedule for such services in accordance with the Medicaid rate, if any, or the customary rate and adjust the schedule as appropriate. West Virginia Code § 49-7-33. Consequently, the Hewitt I Court concluded the abuse and neglect fee issue by upholding the fees in underlying payment orders entered before June 7, 2002, and explaining that the payment orders entered after June 7, 2002, were subject to the statute's provisions regarding the Medicaid rate. [2] 212 W.Va. at 703, 575 S.E.2d at 313.