More than $54K in unclaimed funds returned to Weirton Medical Center

WEIRTON -- State Treasurer Riley Moore paid a visit to Weirton Medical Center Friday morning, not to receive any healthcare services, but to return funds his office had determined rightfully belonged to the local hospital.

"We are handing back a substantial amount of money," Moore said prior to unveiling a check for $54,222.86 to WMC.

According to Moore, funds found to be "dormant," such as unclaimed checks, insurance settlements and inheritances, are sent to his office's Unclaimed Property Division, which works to track down the proper recipient and return the funds to them.

"We're so proud to be able to do that," Moore said.

In the last year, he said, his office has been able to return more than $26 million in unclaimed properties to individuals, businesses and organizations. That amount is a record, surpassing the previously high amount of $18.6 million.

This year has seen a big focus on hospitals being presented with unclaimed funds, Moore noted. In addition to Weirton Medical Center, $85,000 was presented to WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital in June, and, in May, almost $43,000 was given back to J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown.

While no specific use for the funds has been determined, WMC officials explain the money will benefit area residents.

"It's going toward continuing our mission of providing quality healthcare to the community," WMC Director of Communications Kelli McCoy noted.

The State Treasurer's Office has more than $400 million currently in unclaimed property listings, and encourages residents to go online to www.WVUnclaimedProperty.gov to see if there are any funds in their names.