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Federal Health Care Funding Sent To Support Rural Centers, Scientific Research

A med student or doctor checks a patient's vitals.
Legislation focused on West Virginia health issues was a topic of debate and lawmaking during Saturday’s legislative session with many bills being passed through both chambers.
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More than $17 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are going towards health care in West Virginia.

The bulk of the money comes from the agency’s Health Center Cluster Grant Program, which helps support centers considered to be located in more rural areas. A combined amount of more than $15 million will be sent to four centers around the state. These include:

  • $4,641,437 to Community Care of West Virginia in Rock Cave 
  • $4,627,591 to Shenandoah Valley Medical System in Martinsburg
  • $3,364,164 to Community Health Systems in Beckley 
  • $2,576,011 to New River Health Association in Scarbro

The same grant program also saw $2.4 million go towards Valley Health Care in Mill Creek and the Belington Community Medical Services Association late last month.

“As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue advocating for resources to ensure every West Virginian across the Mountain State has the quality, affordable health services they need,” said U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., in a joint statement with U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va..

Both senators are members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which writes legislation that sends federal funds to other government agencies.

Other health-related grants announced by the HHS include more than $1 million for the state Department of Health and Human Resources for STD prevention and control, nearly $800,000 towards Morgantown company IstoVisio for mental health research and $76,000 for West Virginia University for environmental health hazards research.