Medicaid is an Investment in Our State’s Future: Cutting Programs Stifles the ROI for Taxpayers            Medicaid is the backbone of West Virginia’s healthcare infrastructure, with rural hospitals and providers relying on Medicaid reimbursements to stay afloat. Research shows that expanding eligibility for Medicaid reduces uncompensated care, increases hospital operating margins, and keeps hospitals open. Over half of our state’s children and nearly a third of

Opposition to West Virginia Senate Bill 714 by Matthew A. Davis This year, a bill (SB 714) introduced in the West Virginia Senate is calling for the elimination of the WV Board of Osteopathic Medicine, which oversees the medical licensing for osteopathic physicians (DOs) and has existed for over 100 years since 1923. Those licenses would be consequently transferred to the allopathic licensing board. These two distinct branches of medicine

Opinion: Medicaid is essential and must be funded By Rich Sutphin, executive director of the WV Rural Health Association West Virginians face a number of obstacles when it comes to health. Although we have some of the most beautiful rural vistas in the country, our residents are some of the unhealthiest. Diabetes, tobacco use and heart disease are rampant. Substance use disorder and the overdose rate continue to plague the

Register for SAMHSA’s 20th Prevention Day SAMHSA’s 20th Prevention Day takes place on Monday, January 29, 2024, in conjunction with CADCA National Leadership Forum at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center near Washington, D.C. SAMHSA’s Prevention Day celebrates its 20th anniversary by exploring innovations and emerging issues; reflecting on past accomplishments; and charting a course for the future of prevention. Here’s a few reasons you’ll want to make the

HRSA Primary Care Training: Physician Assistant Rural Training in Behavioral Health Apply by March 15.  HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce will make up to 12 awards to accredited physician assistant training programs.  The goal of the program is to increase the number of physician assistants in rural areas trained to integrate behavioral health with primary care services.  grants.gov/search-results-detail/349138 Share This Blog Post:

CMS Accepting Applications for New Physician Residency Slots Apply by March 31. Federal legislation under Section 126 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, authorizes the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to distribute additional residency positions (also known as slots) for physician training in underserved areas. Eligible hospitals must use MEARIS, CMS’s online application system to apply by March 31 for 200 newly available slots. In a one-hour webinar

New State by State Analysis on Impact of CMS Strategies for States to Protect Children and Youth Medicaid and CHIP Enrollment The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a new federal analysis on state Medicaid and CHIP enrollment changes among children, youth aged 19-23, and families since states have resumed full eligibility renewals following the COVID-19 pandemic. The data below provides critical insight into the impact of