Health

October 20, 2020 by Kelly Allen
Smoothing the Transition: A Medicaid Buy-in Could Reduce Churn and Expand Health Insurance Coverage to Thousands of West Virginians

Introduction Despite major gains under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), too many low- and middle- income West Virginians still lack consistent affordable health care coverage options. West Virginia saw the largest drop in the uninsured rate in the country after implementation of the ACA and Medicaid expansion, going from 13.5 percent of the population uninsured…

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October 20, 2020 by WVCBP
17 West Virginia Non-profits Call on Governor Justice to Reallocate Remaining CARES Act Funding

WVVA - As part of federal COVID-relief legislation passed in March, West Virginia received $1.25 billion to address the health and economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. Read full article. As of October 19, there is still over $969 million remaining unspent with a December 30 deadline for utilizing the funds. Governor Justice’s current proposal would send…

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September 21, 2020 by WVCBP
Health Care for All West Virginia Coalition Urges Senate to Prioritize Immediate Need for COVID Relief Over Rushing To Fill Supreme Court Vacancy

For Immediate Release: September 21, 2020 Contact: Kelly Allen, 304-612-4180 Charleston, WV- For several months, members of the Health Care for All WV coalition have urged our U.S. Senators and House Representatives to prioritize a robust COVID relief package that would address the immense suffering West Virginia families, businesses, and local governments are facing. Congress has failed…

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September 15, 2020 by WVCBP
With New Data Showing Health Coverage Progress in West Virginia Stalled Even Prior to COVID-19 Crisis, WVCBP’s New Policy Brief Details How State Can Cover All Children

For Immediate Release: September 15, 2020 Contact: Sean O'Leary, 304-400-8899 Charleston, WV - The number of West Virginians without health insurance stayed the same in 2019, further stalling the historic gains made under the Affordable Care Act even before the COVID-19 economic and health crisis caused job and health insurance loss for tens of thousands of West Virginians.  Today's…

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September 15, 2020 by Sean O'Leary
A CHIP Buy-in Could Help West Virginia Achieve Universal Coverage for Kids

Introduction The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provides low-cost health coverage to children in families that earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid. CHIP is administered at the state level and is usually tied closely to state Medicaid programs. Each state program has its own rules about who qualifies for CHIP. Read the full policy…

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August 25, 2020 by Kelly Allen
West Virginians’ Health Care Threatened as ACA Lawsuit Reaches the Supreme Court

Despite the importance of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicaid expansion in providing health coverage in the midst of a pandemic, proponents of the lawsuit to dismantle the ACA, including Republican state Attorneys General and the Trump administration, march on. Oral arguments are scheduled for November 10 in front of the Supreme Court of…

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July 30, 2020 by Kelly Allen
Leverage Medicaid to Strengthen our Recovery

July 30 marks the 55th anniversary of Medicaid. Medicaid is a powerhouse state-federal partnership, providing health coverage to over 560,000 West Virginians, bringing over $3 billion in federal health care funding into our state each year, and supporting hospitals and health care jobs all over the state. While always essential, Medicaid is especially effective during…

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July 21, 2020 by Kelly Allen
Health Insurance during Coronavirus

West Virginia Public Broadcasting - What happens to someone's health insurance when they lose their job during the coronavirus pandemic, and what does it mean for their health care? We'll discuss these questions with Kelly Allen, Interim Executive Director of the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy. View the Facebook Live video here.

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