West Virginia is poised to receive at least $500 million in federal funding aimed at enhancing rural healthcare between fiscal years 2026 and 2030. The announcement follows the state’s application to the Rural Health Transformation Program, a key component of the One Big Beautiful Bill. This initiative allocates $50 billion over five years to address the challenges posed by reductions in federal Medicaid funding and stricter eligibility criteria affecting rural hospitals and healthcare providers.
In a recent statement, Gov. Patrick Morrisey confirmed that West Virginia submitted its application, which will position the state to receive funding in annual installments of $100 million if all 50 states apply. The remaining $25 billion will be allocated based on a formula that considers factors such as the rural population percentage, the number of rural health facilities, and the operational status of Medicaid disproportionate share hospitals.
Dr. Brian Huggins, the Monongalia County Health Officer, expressed cautious optimism regarding the potential role of public health practitioners in this funding landscape. During a report to the Monongalia County Board of Health, Huggins highlighted that health departments were initially excluded from the discussions surrounding West Virginia’s application. Nevertheless, he noted ongoing conversations about how public health can contribute meaningfully to this initiative.
“What does that mean for us?” Huggins asked, emphasizing that much of the funding focus may lean towards hospitals. He added, “I’m very confident that this is something our hospital partners will probably be asking us. What is the best way to do prevention? How can we get into the community?” Huggins believes that collaboration with health departments could be beneficial for hospitals seeking to implement preventive measures without relying solely on external consultants.
The Rural Health Transformation Program falls under the auspices of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). One of its main priorities is “promoting evidence-based, measurable interventions to improve prevention and chronic disease management.” This aligns with Huggins’ assertion that chronic disease must take precedence in public health initiatives in West Virginia.
“Almost all the statistics that make us 50th deal with some kind of chronic disease,” he explained. “Yet public health in West Virginia does not focus on chronic disease. We focus on clean water, clean food, communicable disease, immunizations, and all of those things are very important. That’s kind of the Public Health 1.0 model. But if we’re going to get West Virginia out of 50th, somebody has to be looking at how we are preventing chronic disease.”
In tandem with these preventive strategies, Huggins outlined the Monongalia County Health Department’s goal to become a leading source of vital health data for the region. “One of our strategic planning objectives is to become the chief health strategist for the area,” he stated. This role involves being the go-to expert on health statistics and public health prevention, further solidifying the department’s influence on decision-making processes related to the distribution of Rural Health Transformation Program funds.
Huggins emphasized that the ability to competently collect and analyze data will be crucial for fulfilling this objective. “Us being able to competently collect data and analyze the data is a huge part of being that chief health strategist. This is the future of where public health in West Virginia needs to move,” he noted, asserting that the Monongalia County Health Department is well-positioned to lead this initiative.
As West Virginia prepares to navigate this significant influx of federal funding, the collaboration between public health officials and healthcare providers could prove pivotal in shaping the future of rural health care in the state. The ongoing discussions among health leaders signal a proactive approach to tackling the chronic disease issues that have historically plagued the region, with the hope of improving health outcomes and elevating West Virginia’s standing nationally.
