Charleston Gazette-Mail - West Virginia’s COVID-19 death toll reached 4,219 Wednesday, including 2,878 deaths of unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals since vaccines became available, a point state coronavirus czar Dr. Clay Marsh drove home during the state COVID-19 briefing. Read the full article. Since COVID-19 vaccines became available last December, the virus has killed 3,102…
Health
Medicaid enrollment has increased, both nationally and in West Virginia, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent data show enrollment increased in the Mountain State from its pre-pandemic baseline of 489,000 individuals in February 2020 to 587,000 people in June 2021. The reasons for this are twofold: first, unprecedented pandemic-related job losses, which peaked at nearly 16…
Increasing Vaccination Rates Requires Addressing Accessibility Challenges for Vulnerable Populations
Every one of us is responsible for doing what we can to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. Several critical strategies reduce the risk and spread of COVID-19, as well as its variants. These include wearing masks, social distancing, and – most recently and notably – getting vaccinated against the infection. Despite clear evidence supporting…
As the federal government continues to disperse emergency funds across the country, West Virginia lawmakers and advocates alike must focus on how the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) can further the state’s health, workforce, and economic recovery. ARPA was signed into law in March 2021. Amongst other provisions, the legislation includes expansions to food assistance, housing support, unemployment benefits, tax credits for working families, and…
WOWK13 - On Inside West Virginia Politics, Kelly Allen, the Executive Direct of the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, talks about the importance of Paid Family and Medical Leave being considered in Congress. Watch the full segment. According to Allen, 1 in 5 people have paid medical leave with a higher-paying job. With…
For Immediate Release: August 3, 2021Contact: Renee Alves, 559-916-5939 Charleston, WV – West Virginia faces a pivotal moment as we begin to emerge and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and recession. While the pandemic brought many of its own unique challenges, an important takeaway that was highlighted during COVID-19 was that there are also longstanding, structural challenges to the…
Emerging Stronger from the Pandemic: A Blueprint for an Equitable Economic Recovery in West Virginia
Foreword West Virginia faces a pivotal moment as we begin to emerge and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and recession. While the pandemic brought many of its own unique challenges that have been addressed by prompt local, state, and government action, an important takeaway that was highlighted during the pandemic was that there are also…
At the beginning of this year, West Virginia began offering a dental benefit for adults over the age of 21 who are enrolled in West Virginia Medicaid. This was a result of SB 648, a piece of legislation passed in 2020 which the WVCBP, the West Virginia Oral Health Coalition, and many partners and community members advocated on…
Big Sky Business Journal - For the first time ever, California posted a population decline in 2020, and the United States as a whole didn’t fare much better. Its growth has decelerated to 0.35% year-over-year, the slowest growth rate since the Great Depression. Read the full article. Population experts blame the slowing growth rate on three…
West Virginia Public Broadcasting, News Break - West Virginia has a much higher rate of Medicaid enrollment than most states. That’s due to high numbers of low-income households, Medicaid expansion, and now the COVID-19 pandemic. Listen to the full segment. The West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy released a report on just how many people use Medicaid…