Author: Emily Rice

Emily has been with WVPB since December 2022 and is the Appalachia Health News Reporter, based in Charleston. She has worked in several areas of journalism since her graduation from Marshall University in 2016, including work as a reporter, photographer, videographer and managing editor for newsprint and magazines. Before coming to WVPB, she worked as the features editor of the Bluefield Daily Telegraph, the managing editor of West Virginia Executive Magazine and as an education reporter for The Cortez Journal in Cortez, Colorado.

Advocates Call For Tobacco Prevention Funding Under New Administration

Advocates are hopeful that Governor Patrick Morrisey will include funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs in his upcoming budget proposal.

West Virginia invests less than 1% of its earnings from tobacco settlement money into smoking prevention and cessation programs.

Advocates are calling on Gov. Patrick Morrisey to allot settlement funds he won as the state’s attorney general from JUUL Labs, an e-cigarette company, in his upcoming 6-year proposed budget, which he said he will release before the 2025 legislative session.

Doug Hogan, the government relations director for the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network said the state spends approximately $451,000 on tobacco prevention efforts, less than any state spends on similar programs.

“West Virginia invests the least of any state in the country when it comes to prevention, yet we have the highest usage rates for our youth and our adults,” Hogan said.

His group is calling on Morrisey to invest $4.5 million in fact-based tobacco control programs this year.

According to the American Lung Association, 21% of West Virginia adults are smokers, and 27% of high school students – the highest rate in the nation. Tobacco use is the leading cause of death in the state at more than 4,200 residents a year.

Hogan said he’s hopeful the funding will be allocated following conversations with Morrisey about the settlement and West Virginia’s tobacco problem.

“Governor Morrissey has said that he wants those Juul settlement funds to be used for the purpose that they were intended for, and we are 100 percent supportive of that, because we believe those funds were intended for youth prevention programs,” Hogan said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that West Virginia spend $24.7 million annually to combat the health and economic consequences of tobacco use.

Morrisey Promises Religious Exemption To Vaccination On Day One

On his first day as Governor, Patrick Morrisey promised West Virginia would allow religious exemptions to school-entry vaccines.

West Virginia will no longer be one of three states in the nation without religious exemptions for school entry inoculation if one of newly sworn-in Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s first eight executive orders is successful.

Morrisey said the executive order interprets 2023 legislation, the Equal Protection for Religion Act, forbidding excessive government limitations on the exercise of religion.

“I think that legislation clarifying this is important because when the equal protection for religious act was passed, it didn’t amend specific laws,” Morrisey said. “So the vaccine laws stand alone. We want to make sure that specific laws that may be in conflict with others get addressed and are clarified by the legislature. So we envision this as a two-step process.”

Morrisey said he does not want West Virginia to be one of a few states without a religious exemption and believes the state is behind the curve.

“We believe that the Equal Protection for Religious Act strongly argues in favor of religious and conscientious exemptions,” Morrisey said. “West Virginia right now is an outlier. There are only several states that don’t recognize religious exemption. Today that changes, and we will be making that available to you.”

Read the finalized Executive Order here.

In the order, Morrisey directs the Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health and the State Health Officer to establish a process for parents or guardians who want to send their child to a state school or state-regulated child care center but object to one or more required vaccines on religious or conscientious grounds.

West Virginia’s State Health Officer, Dr. Matthew Christiansen resigned on Dec.16, 2024. Former Gov. Jim Justice said he would allow Morrisey to appoint someone to this position. No announcement has been made regarding a State Health Officer.

West Virginia currently has an interim Commissioner of the Bureau for Public Health, Justin Davis.

“A writing signed by the objector” will be sufficient proof to establish the objection.

“That held belief, that would actually trump that (potential exposure and outbreaks of preventable disease), because you have to give meaning to this law, and I don’t think that that’s been done appropriately to date,” Morrisey said. “So I want to make sure that that happens. But to be clear the way the language is drafted, we want to be amending the specific area. So that’s, I think, the ideal way to do it. This is a step forward within the power of the government, what we control.”

According to the order, the Bureau for Public Health and the State Health Officer have to submit a plan to allow for religious exemptions by Feb. 1, 2025.

It must include a proposal for any necessary legislation and rules that need to be changed to accommodate religious exemptions.

By Feb. 1, the Bureau for Public Health and the State Health Officer also have to report how many people have filed written objections to compulsory school immunization requirements.

In the order, Morrisey also said the Bureau for Public Health and the State Health Officer, and all officials and employees of the state “shall take no action to enforce the compulsory school immunization requirements” stating they “violate a religious and moral objection.”

Charleston Drug Summit Aims To Connect Families To Resources

More than a dozen organizations are partnering to hold a summit for West Virginians affected by Substance Use Disorder to connect and share information.

More than a dozen organizations are partnering to hold the HOPE (Healing, Opportunities and Possibilities to Empower) Family Drug Summit for West Virginians affected by Substance Use Disorder (SUD) to connect and share information.

On Jan. 15, with sessions beginning at 8:30 a.m., substance use disorder experts, individuals and family members impacted by SUD will gather at the University of Charleston to exchange information, resources and support.

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia, Will Thompson says he wants attendees to come away from the summit with a better understanding of how addiction works and resources to help themselves or others.

“We’re also hoping that people who come and attend will be part of the solution,” he said. “Where they’ll be able to make contacts with one another, or they’ll see that, ‘Hey, I’m not alone in my struggles.’ You know, this is someone else whose son or daughter is also struggling with this, or how do I raise my grandkids now? Whatever the case might be, to give them a better understanding.”

Thompson said there are continuing education credits available to earn at the summit, but he thinks everyone could learn something from attending.

“I hope the community comes, even if they’re not getting the continuing education credits, it’s something I think anybody who has any interest in all, I think will gain a lot,” Thompson said. “In fact, I’m looking forward to hearing from some of the speakers myself and I’ve been dealing with the addiction crisis for basically my entire career that started in 1995.”

Attendance at the daylong summit is free and in-person only. Attendees have to register online ahead of the event.

Local Healthcare Advocates Ask U.S. Senators To Reject RFK Jr.’s Nomination

Local health care advocates asked Senator Shelley Moore Capito and incoming Senator Jim Justice to vote against President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of health and human services, RFK Jr.

Local healthcare advocates asked Senator Shelley Moore Capito and incoming Senator Jim Justice to vote against President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of health and human services, Robert Kennedy, Jr.

According to Protect Our Care West Virginia, more than 600,000 West Virginia residents rely on at least one federal program for health insurance coverage.

On Friday morning healthcare advocates hosted a virtual discussion opposing Kennedy’s nomination as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services secretary.

They argue he is not qualified for this position, has “radical views” on vaccinations and has not taken a position on Medicare, Medicaid or the Affordable Care Act.

“It is more important than ever that we protect Medicaid, the ACA, Medicare and CHIP,” said Rhonda Rogombe, health policy analyst with the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy. “Instead of looking for ways to cut those programs, our leaders should be looking for ways to flex the power they have so that people can be as healthy as possible.”

Neither Capito’s nor Justice’s offices responded to a request for comment on whether they’d support Kennedy’s confirmation.

Two Nurses Charged With Criminal Neglect In Patient’s Boiling Death

Criminal neglect charges have been filed against two Hopemont Hospital nurses in connection with the January 2024 death of an elderly nonverbal patient in long-term state care.

Updated on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 at 12:30 p.m.

West Virginia Attorney General and soon-to-be Governor, Patrick Morrisey announced in a Wednesday morning press release that criminal neglect charges have been filed against two Hopemont Hospital nurses in connection with the January 2024 death of an elderly nonverbal patient in long-term state care.

Kylah Beard of Morgantown, a certified nursing assistant, and Delilah Clayburn-Hill of Buckhannon, a registered nurse, have been charged with felony neglect of an incapacitated adult by a caregiver resulting in the incapacitated adult’s death.

“This is a very disturbing case and there needs to be accountability for the horrific death of the victim, Mr. Larry Hedrick, who was supposed to be under the care of medical professionals,” Morrisey said in a release. “Our Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) investigators and our office will assist Prosecutor Shay and his team in any way we can to make sure justice is served.”

Preston County Prosecuting Attorney Jay Shay and his team will handle the case.

The MFCU’s investigation found that on Jan. 4, 2024, Beard allegedly failed to check the temperature of Hedrick’s bathwater after helping him in the tub and left him submerged in 134-degree water for 47 minutes where the patient sustained second and third-degree burns and blisters.

Hedrick was later taken to West Penn Hospital Nursing-Burn Trauma Unit in western Pennsylvania. He succumbed to his injuries on Jan. 12, 2024.

According to documents obtained by WVPB, the criminal complaints were filed on Dec. 17 in Preston County by a Medicaid Fraud Control Unit Investigator from the attorney general’s office.

Hill, a registered nurse, was informed of the burns and blisters but did not treat Hedrick, according to the criminal complaint.

Mike Folio, the legal director of Disability Rights of West Virginia has also been investigating the incident.

“The only reason that this saw the light of day, quite frankly, was we did an investigation,” Folio said. “Incumbent Morrisey’s office did their investigation and were able to report the facts. But sadly this individual died and he was boiled alive. He should never have been placed in that whirlpool.”

Hill and Beard are scheduled for an initial appearance in Preston County Magistrate Court at 2 p.m. on Jan. 29.

Preston County Prosecuting Attorney Shay did not respond to a request for comment.

Ann Moore is the communications director for the Office of Shared Administration, which oversees the Department of Health Facilities (DHF), the Department of Health (DH) and the Department of Human Services (DoHS).

In an emailed statement, Moore said DHF is fully cooperating with the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and law enforcement as they investigate the case.

“Patient safety is DHF’s number one priority,” Moore wrote. “Anytime a patient’s safety is put at risk, it is critically important to hold those responsible accountable. We remain committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our patients and to upholding the highest standards of care across all our facilities.”

Moore also said Beard and Hill were contract nursing staff assigned to Hopemont Hospital and “DHF immediately severed its relationship with these individuals. Due to the pending criminal matters, DHF will have no further comment at this time.”

**Editor’s Note: This story was updated to include DHF’s response.

Second Case Of Avian Flu Found in W.Va.

One case of avian flu was found in a backyard flock of domestic birds in Pocahontas County.

In a Friday press release, the state Department of Agriculture (WVDA) confirmed West Virginia’s second case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, or HPAI, since the global outbreak began in early 2022.

According to the WVDA, the Pocahontas County premises are quarantined, and the birds have been “depopulated” to prevent the disease from spreading.

“The WVDA acted swiftly to contain the disease and remains committed to collaborating with poultry owners to prevent its spread,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt. “As the state’s leading agricultural commodity, protecting the poultry industry is critical, and implementing emergency response plans is essential to safeguarding its future.”

Avian influenza is an airborne respiratory virus that spreads among chickens through nasal and eye secretions, as well as manure. The virus also infects a wide variety of other birds, including wild migratory waterfowl.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the public health risk associated with avian influenza remains low.

The WVDA reminded West Virginians to properly handle and cook all poultry and eggs.

Poultry owners should report unusual death loss, a drop in egg production, or any sick domestic birds to WVDA’s Animal Health Division at 304-558-2214.