Gov. Patrick Morrisey shares his hopes for the collaboration between medical centers and the Rural Health Transformation Program Friday afternoon. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

Gov. Patrick Morrisey visited WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center to discuss West Virginia’s Rural Health Transformation Program, which he says aims to improve overall health of West Virginia residents and to draw more people into the workforce.

Morrisey said the program is focused on prevention, education and upfront investments intended to reduce health care costs, improve care and help more West Virginians remain healthy enough to work. He was joined by Arvin Singh, West Virginia’s secretary of health, who is leading the state’s rural health transformation efforts.

“This is going to make a real big difference,” Morrisey said. “And it’s very rare, you know, you just don’t see this kind of investment that comes in on the front end to make progress.”

Sean Smith, president and chief executive officer of WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center, said the hospital serves an eight-county region in West Virginia and that more than half of its patient population lives in a rural area. He said the hospital’s service area is “a microcosm of the state of West Virginia.”

Morrisey said West Virginia has health care challenges that affect broader economic issues, including the state’s workforce participation rate. He said many residents are not in the workforce due to health conditions, and the rural health program is intended to address some of those challenges sooner.

Arvin Singh, West Virginia’s secretary of health, discusses the timeline surrounding applications for grants from the Rural Health Transformation Program Friday afternoon at WVU Camden Clark Medical Center. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

“How do we ultimately get more people back into the workforce, leading happier, more purposeful or productive lives, and that is what rural health transformation is all about,” Morrisey said.

Morrisey said the state has announced more than $60 million in funding opportunities in recent weeks. He said that includes $4 million for recruitment, training and upskilling; $29.5 million to help providers improve efficiency and reduce administrative burdens; $18.8 million for Health Tech Appalachia; $800,000 for the West Virginia Health Information Network; and $9 million for the Mountain State Care Force, which includes career ladders and apprenticeships.

Morrisey said the state was awarded $199 million for the first year of the program and could receive approximately $1 billion over five years if it meets its targets.

Singh said the Department of Health is working on a compressed timeline to implement nearly $200 million this year. He said the department expects to release more than 30 funding announcements over the course of the year, but is staggering them to give applicants time to review requirements and to allow staff to review applications.

“We’re moving fast, but we’re moving with purpose,” Singh said.

Morrisey also said officials from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are expected to visit West Virginia next week for a site visit and meetings on the program.