Health

January 22, 2024 by Kelly Allen
Lawmakers are Considering Changes to Infant and Maternal Mortality Investigations, but Disagree on How Much Discretion to Give Review Teams

Mountain State Spotlight - West Virginia’s babies and new mothers are at concerningly high risk of dying during and around childbirth. One of the key state strategies for addressing these problems are the infant and maternal mortality review teams, government-mandated panels to identify why people are dying, which groups are most at risk and what can be…

Read More
January 9, 2024 by Rhonda Rogombe
Abuse. Overdoses. Mental illness. Health officials Say They Need a Nearly $300 Million Budget Increase to Respond to These Problems.

Mountain State Spotlight - West Virginia health officials say they urgently need nearly $300 million in new funding to help residents who desperately need drug treatment and recovery, protect the state’s children from abuse, and aid those mired in poverty.  Read the full article. The health officials laid out their case to Gov. Jim Justice…

Read More
January 7, 2024 by WVCBP
Growing Concern Over West Virginia Children Losing Medicaid Coverage

Appalachian Times - In a distressing turn of events, the federal government has raised red flags regarding the substantial decline in Medicaid health coverage for children across nine states. West Virginia, grappling with its own concerns, reports a worrying trend, sparking urgent attention to this critical issue affecting the most vulnerable demographic—children. Read the full…

Read More
January 2, 2024 by WVCBP
Concern Grows Over WV Kids Losing Medicaid Coverage

Public News Service, Mountain Messenger - The federal government has warned nine states about an alarming number of children losing Medicaid health coverage, and West Virginia officials say they're also closely watching the numbers. Read the full article. According to the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, children make up around 40% of the state's Medicaid beneficiaries. The…

Read More
December 18, 2023 by Kelly Allen
Policymakers Must Prioritize Vital Medicaid Investment that Boosts Health, Providers, and State Economy

Medicaid is a federal-state partnership that provides health coverage to over 500,000 West Virginians on average. The program is vital to West Virginia’s hospitals and providers, with research showing Medicaid expansion has resulted in reduced uncompensated care, increases in hospital operating margins, and decreases in closures of hospitals and obstetric units. Medicaid improves hospital finances…

Read More
December 13, 2023 by Kelly Allen
Administration Says it Has a Plan for $114 Million State Gap on Medicaid Spending

West Virginia MetroNews - Gov. Jim Justice and his administration say a $114 million budget gap for the state’s portion of Medicaid is under control. Read the full article. “Sure we’ve got a shortfall in Medicaid right now. Stuff happens. I could have said something a whole lot worse than that, but stuff happens all…

Read More
November 6, 2023 by Kelly Allen
PEIA Proposes 10% Premium Increase for Public Employees in West Virginia

West Virginia News - The Public Employees Insurance Agency's Finance Board is holding public discussions across the state regarding a proposed 10% premium increase for the coming year. This increase would be in addition to the 24% increase implemented for the current year for state employees and educators. The increases are a result of legislation…

Read More
November 6, 2023 by Kelly Allen
PEIA Takes Another Premium Increase Out for Public Comment

West Virginia MetroNews, Dominion Post - PEIA’s Finance Board is going around the state for conversations about what many public employees will likely consider bad news, a 10 percent premium increase for the coming year. Read the full article. That’s on top of a 24 percent increase for state employees and educators instituted for the…

Read More