Morrisey Supports Medicaid Waiver For ‘Most Vulnerable’ As Home Health Firm Opens New Office

Gov. Patrick Morrisey committed to maintaining state Medicaid funds for the most vulnerable Monday during a dedication of a West Virginia home health care company’s new corporate office. 

Morrisey spoke to the Cabell County crowd about a juxtaposition on economic development. “Think about this, he said, “We spend a lot of time talking about how we’re going to try to lower these big companies to come in to West Virginia, but sometimes we have these incredible finds right here. They’re in hidden view.”

The governor came to ensure that the Village Caregiving company stood out in plain view. The Barboursville-based home health care system has 60 locations across 22 states and serves more than 5,500 clients.  

VIllage Caregiving president Matt Walker said 80 to 85% of their company’s clients are government payers. Walker praised Morrisey for his funding commitment to the West Virginia Medicaid Aged and Disabled Waiver program, which focuses on home health care. 

“He made a really historic investment in those programs in his budget, which he proposed, and the legislature adopted,” Walker said. “So we’re thrilled to see that at the state level in West Virginia. We feel like we’re in good shape. The governor and the legislature understand the value and importance of those programs, and we’re hoping that the U.S. Senate and the House feel the same way.”

Morrisey said funding that particular Medicaid waiver is vital for thousands of West Virginia seniors and disabled. 

“We wanted to make sure that we’re taking care of the most vulnerable,” Morrisey said. “That’s what we fought for, and that’s what we achieved in our budget, and we’re proud of that. Now, as time goes on, you see a lot of the external pressures. Whatever happens, we’re going to stand up for West Virginia, and we’re going to make sure that our budget deals with the various needs that are out there, so we’re going to evaluate that federal bill and see what happens.”

Those external pressures he referred to are the billions of  health care dollars now threatened by federal budget cuts. Walker said his company is hoping for specific bill amendments.

“We want them to be responsible with the Medicaid program,” Walker said. “It impacts people from the first day of birth to the last day on earth, right? And so there are a lot of nuances in there, but the programs for sure that deal with seniors and people with disabilities, underserved rural people, we need them to fully fund those programs.”

Morrisey said he believes a focus of President Trump’s so-called “big, beautiful bill” is to see the economy grow. He said the key to that economic development is to have a very aggressive, pro-tax reduction plan and is hopeful that the removal of the taxes and some of the provisions can lift West Virginia up economically. 

“That’s certainly what we’re hoping for,” Morrisey said. “Some of the other provisions we’re going to keep looking at. If there’s some things that need to be changed along the way, we’re always going to be looking and advocating for our state.”