$40 million appropriated by the legislature during the most recent special session is now available as grant funding for rural hospitals.

An investigation into alleged Medicaid fraud at a substance use treatment facility in Wood County led West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey to file a lawsuit against the facility.

Early data shows West Virginia’s overdose death rate is continuing to decline, following national trends.

Charleston Area Medical Center, or CAMC, will host a showcase Wednesday for high school students to explore health care career options.

The CDC announced cases of Whooping Cough have more than quadrupled nationally in the last year. Emily Rice reports that state health officials are urging parents to check their child’s vaccination status.

Nearly 200 organizations applied for opioid settlement money from the first round of funding from the foundation responsible for its distribution.

The agency federally mandated to protect and advocate for those with disabilities in West Virginia has announced plans to take the Secretary of the Department of Health Facilities to court.

Health and safety agencies are urging West Virginians to keep their home’s smoke detectors in good working condition during this year’s annual Fire Prevention Week. Gov. Jim Justice issued a …

West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week’s biggest news in the Mountain State. Emily Rice is our host this week.

The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine was recognized in a CDC report that examines how state and county-level agencies used COVID-19 grants.

On the ballot in November, West Virginia voters will decide whether or not to change the state’s constitution to prohibit medically assisted suicide.

Advocates say they are disappointed lawmakers did not consider increasing funding for tobacco prevention during the second special session of the legislature.

According to the CDC, adolescent mental health in the U.S. was worsening before the COVID-19 pandemic, and now, the nation’s youth is experiencing a mental health crisis. At the beginning of the year,…

More states than ever before will distribute opioid reversal medication for Save A Life Day on Sept 26. Save A Life Day began in 2020 as a pilot project in Kanawha…

Early Center for Disease Control (CDC) data shows a dramatic fall of 12 percent in overdose death rates across the U.S. in the last year. During the same period, West Virginia’s dru…

By the end of the month, U.S. households will again be able to order free at-home COVID-19 tests from the federal government. While the agency that oversees the testing has not announced an exact date f…

As temperatures cool and respiratory illnesses become more prevalent, state health officials are urging the public to get the latest versions of their vaccines.

A Sept. 1 analysis of provisional overdose death rate data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows a rapid decrease in the number of drug overdose deaths in th…

In 1918, Williamson Memorial Hospital opened in Williamson, West Virginia to provide health care services to the residents of rural Mingo County. …

Advocates of a pilot program that covered expensive weight loss medications for West Virginia state employees say the state will end up paying more for obesity-related health problems. In March, the state’s Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) cance…

One of America’s greatest contributions to world culture … is hip hop. A new compilation documents what it sounds like across Appalachia.  Also people in the region love their local water sprin…

The foundation responsible for dispersing West Virginia’s opioid settlement money has approved the launch of the application process for its first grant cycle. The West Virginia First Foundation’s (…

West Virginia University (WVU) and Ascend West Virginia are lending work space at no cost to the West Virginia First Foundation (WVFF) in Morgantown, Fayetteville, Elkins, Martinsburg and Lewisburg. …

The re-organization of the DHHR, as directed by lawmakers in 2023, is going well, with a few hiccups, Department of Health Secretary Sherri Young told a legislative committee on Tuesday.

A program that doubles or triples nutrition assistance benefits when consumers use them at local farmers’ markets has been temporarily paused because of a lack of funding. The problem is the program’s popularity.

Researchers say mosquito-borne illnesses are on the rise across the U.S. due to rising temperatures. Appalachia Health News Reporter, Emily Rice, reports West Virginia is fairing well.

Saturday is International Overdose Awareness Day. Held annually, it is the world’s largest campaign to end overdose without stigma and remember those who have died and their families.

A senior policy advisor to the Legislature presented a sobering picture of West Virginia’s drug epidemic on Monday.

Lawmakers had questions Tuesday about a seven-year project to modernize West Virginia’s public assistance programs.

A national organization that works to improve the home care industry’s West Virginia Chapter says a higher reimbursement will help seniors and those with disabilities live in their homes with dignity.

After years of advocacy, IDD providers were notified Thursday that the Bureau for Medical Services will increase their rates.

The majority of nurse anesthetists who’ve just graduated from West Virginia University’s Doctor of Nursing Practice are staying in the state.

Attorneys suing West Virginia for its alleged treatment of children in foster care say the Department of Human Services should not be granted the summary judgment it requested.

Actress Halle Berry visited Charleston to discuss federal legislation that would expand research and training on treating menopause.

While politicians on both sides of the aisle have touted support for child care tax credits in recent years, no bill has passed the House or the Senate, leaving West Virginia child care providers wondering how they will fund their programs in the future.

Residents served by public assistance programs should have easier access to their eligibility status and streamlined services thanks to a new information technology system.

Ebenezer Medical Outreach will offer general dentistry appointments to the uninsured and Medicaid recipients twice a month, starting Friday.

The executive director of the organization responsible for dispersing West Virginia’s opioid settlement funds challenged board members to award funds by the end of the year.

On Monday, the Department of Human Services announced the hiring of West Virginia’s first Statewide Intellectual and Developmental Disability, or IDD, Coordinator, Susan File.

Attendees at Charleston’s Summit will spend the next three days learning from CIT-certified law enforcement officers and behavioral health professionals about improved communication methods, identifying mental health resources for those in crisis and ensuring officer and community safety.

State and local leaders working to mitigate West Virginia’s substance use crisis met at the Capitol Friday to discuss their work with Dr. Rahul Gupta.

As summer comes to a close and back-to-school shopping begins, the Department of Health is reminding parents of the importance of immunization.

A new state protocol allows emergency medical services to render aid at home in eligible cases, reducing emergency room crowding.

The number of COVID cases in West Virginia has more than doubled in the past month.

State officials are reporting West Virginia has less than 6,000 kids in state care for the first time in seven years.

Cancer advocates are petitioning West Virginia’s governor to consider an investment for tobacco prevention in his expected call for a special session in August.

A bill to create a federal plan to prevent and cure Parkinson’s disease, introduced by Senator Shelley Moore Capito, became law last week.

West Virginians have access to a new tool to check their vaccination status, as the number of COVID-19 cases across the country soars.

An excise tax on sugary drinks meant to discourage consumers from drinking so many of them has been lifted in West Virginia.

The program that provides miners with safety and health training is eligible for more than $10 million in grants.

With temperatures continuing to soar on the East Coast, experts are warning about the dangers of heat stroke.

An experienced veteran has been appointed as the new executive director of the Beckley VA Medical Center.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a challenge to the FDA’s rules for prescribing and dispensing a medication widely used in abortions.

The department that oversees West Virginia’s state-run hospitals announced progress in fully staffing the facilities.

Even in ideal circumstances, the removal of a child from their home by Child Protective Services is always traumatic. Emily Rice spoke with community advocates about that process and what resources children need to adapt.

When it comes to several different measures of overall well-being, a new report shows West Virginia’s children rank 44th nationally. But there are some important improvements.

The severity of West Virginia’s high overdose mortality rate qualifies the state for more federal funding to fight the opioid crisis.

The foundation responsible for distributing West Virginia’s opioid settlement money met Thursday to enact mission statements and answer questions about when funds will be available to communities.

A new federal silica dust rule is about to take effect. Monday, a panel of Black Lung experts expressed hope for the future of young miners — if they’re educated about their rights.

The FDA announced a recall of cucumbers potentially contaminated with salmonella that were sent to 14 states, including West Virginia.

The appointed watchdog of the West Virginia Foster Care System has resigned, effective June 6.

The commission that oversees West Virginia’s state-run hospitals questioned state officials but received few answers following the January death of a man held at a state-run psychiatric facility.

Following a special session focused largely on funding her department, the Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Human Services, Cynthia Persily, released a statement promising transparency Tuesday.

Starting in early June, West Virginians will be able to purchase raw milk, as long as it is properly labeled.

One in seven West Virginian children experience anxiety or depression. Appalachia Health News Reporter, Emily Rice spoke with Keith Schemper, adviser for Psychosocial Support at Save the Children about how parents can intervene.

More young people are seeking and following through with permanent contraception procedures.

More than 100 West Virginians from 30 counties were potentially exposed to measles, according to the Department of Health.

Health care services for nearly 30 percent of West Virginia’s population may be difficult to access if lawmakers don’t fully fund the Medicaid program in an expected special session.

The Charleston Metro Area ranked among the nation’s cleanest cities for ozone pollution in a report released Wednesday.

The West Virginia Department of Human Services Bureau for Medical Services released updated data following the completion of the state’s Medicaid unwinding period.

West Virginia’s first case of measles in 15 years was reported Monday afternoon.

An Appalachia food program received a grant to help provide healthy foods and strengthen local food financing programs.

Local harm reduction advocates celebrated the first anniversary of the installation of a Narcan vending machine in Charleston on Monday.

During the recent regular session, legislators passed a bill aimed at improving foster care communication and accountability.

A new grant will help train and place community health workers to strengthen behavioral health systems in 20 W.Va. counties.

Women are the fastest-growing population of veterans and the Beckley VA Medical Center is staying ahead of the curve with its new offerings.

West Virginia has the highest rate of kidney disease in the U.S., with close to 5 percent of adults in the state diagnosed with the disease.

A record number of West Virginia veterans have enrolled in VA healthcare in the last year.

Mental health providers and substance use disorder counselors are coming together to share information between those who may work with veterans in the community.

A county commissioner has joined a chorus of healthcare professionals asking Gov. Jim Justice to veto a bill that would eliminate vaccine requirements for certain students in West Virginia.

On March 17, 2020, West Virginia became the last state in the U.S. to test positive for COVID-19.

West Virginia, a state that has long been a standards bearer for vaccination rates across the country, has passed a law to loosen restrictions for certain students in the state. But the law has one final hurdle to clear before it’s implemented.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is asking lawmakers to support the West Virginia Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Task Force’s request for $5 million.

West Virginians with black lung will have the opportunity to learn about eligibility for benefits at upcoming educational events.

Workers suffering from Long COVID may be eligible for workplace protections and accommodations under federal law.

A bill to ban smoking in a car with a minor present is headed to the governor to become law.

A House Bill that aims to change vaccine requirements for virtual public, private and parochial students in West Virginia moved through the Senate Health Committee Wednesday afternoon after a lengthy discussion.

Developments in a legal battle over medication abortion in West Virginia could change access in the state.

The first confirmed case of avian influenza in West Virginia since 2006 has been found in a non-commercial backyard flock in Kanawha County

Children attending state-run virtual school may no longer have to be vaccinated if a House Health Committee becomes law.

On Tuesday, lawmakers on the House Health and Human Resources Committee moved to legalize the sale of raw milk in West Virginia.

Advocates report the monthly benefit rate for miners with Black Lung has not kept up with inflation.

Public comments will be accepted on the Federal Fiscal Year 2024 State Plan for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF program.

A bill prohibiting smoking in a vehicle when a minor is present passed the Senate Committee on Health and Human Resources on Tuesday.

West Virginia has once again scored failing marks on its annual State of Tobacco Report Card.

Keeping kids off of nicotine was the focus of a rally at the state capitol on Jan. 23, 2024.