New RHTP Funds To Focus On Prevention, Promotion Of Good Health 

Gov. Patrick Morrisey is doubling down on prevention as medicine to improve the state’s health.  

The governor announced Monday that an additional $3 million from the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) is now available to advance prevention-focused, community-based health initiatives.    

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 help offset potential losses to the state from cuts to Medicare and Medicaid.    

At Vandalia Health Preston Memorial Hospital, Morrisey promoted prevention as a cost saving measure for the state.  

“Now in the rural health transformation grant, for the first time ever, there’s proactive monies that are available to invest in our people, and to ensure that prevention and education are put first, not just sick care at the back end of it,” he said. “We believe that if you invest properly in people’s health, and if we build out the strength of these facilities, that you’re going to save more money than that at the back end, and also people are going to be better able to go into the workforce.”  

He announced last month that more than $60 million in funding opportunities has been made available from the state’s $200 million RHTP funds. He stated then that improving West Virginians’ health outcomes is the first step to improving the state’s economy. Monday Morrisey reiterated the sentiment and said “too many people are held back in the workforce in West Virginia because they’re suffering from some disabilities or from some healthcare problems.” 

“Imagine, just imagine, we go from 54.3% in terms of our workforce participation to 56.3%. Just those two percentage points, think about what that would do for the economy.,” Morrisey said. “Think about what that would do for all the people that are working. There’ll be more people under work requirements soon. That’s good. Work is good. Work is noble. We want people to have purpose in their lives. That’s what we’re getting toward, and that’s why I wanted to come here today. As we’re building out these announcements, focusing on needle moving in the health care sphere is particularly important, and especially relevant for a rural county like Preston.” 

Stricter work requirements went into effect for recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits last year, and similar work requirements will be imposed on West Virginia Medicaid recipients next year.