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More than $60 million in funding opportunities have been made available through West Virginia’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP).
The state’s nearly $200 million award from the federal government for 2026 aims to strengthen rural health systems statewide. This is the first of a five-year award with a guaranteed minimum of $100 million a year. It was included in the One Big Beautiful Bill passed last summer to offset potential losses to the state from cuts to Medicare and Medicaid.
At the WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center in Parkersburg Friday, Gov. Patrick Morrisey expressed his excitement at the opportunities the RHTP presents to improve healthcare outcomes across the state.
“The Rural Health Transformation Program is about taking a broad, system-wide approach to improve healthcare outcomes, supporting providers, embracing innovation, and allowing more West Virginians to return to the workforce,” he said.
Morrisey reiterated his conviction that improving West Virginians’ health outcomes will transform the state’s economy.
“How do we ultimately get more people back into the workforce leading happier, more purposeful, more productive lives? And that is what rural health transformation is all about.” he said.
Funding opportunities announced to date support efforts to recruit, train, and retain healthcare professionals across West Virginia while also advancing telehealth, healthcare technology, connectivity solutions, and provider support initiatives designed to improve care delivery and reduce administrative burdens.
“As West Virginia continues to compete for jobs and investment, we also have to make sure families can access quality healthcare close to home and that providers have the support they need to deliver care across our state,” Morrisey said.
In preparation for today’s announcement, state health leaders led a detailed webinar in March outlining the requirements to apply for, and administer, Rural Health Transformation funding.
Additional funding opportunities are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.