Department of Health and Human Resources Story Archives - Page 3 of 16

Predicting West Virginia’s Budget This West Virginia Morning

Sean O’Leary, senior policy analyst for the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, said the state could find itself with a shortfall instead of a surplus in the coming years. He spoke with energy and environment reporter Curtis Tate about the volatility of the severance tax.

On this West Virginia Morning, higher coal and natural gas prices, alongside higher demand for both fossil fuels, generated a severance tax windfall that fattened the state’s budget surplus last year. But the prices for both fossil fuels have declined in recent months.

How the state determines its revenue estimates itself is also a subject of debate. West Virginia’s annual budget is based on estimates that come from the governor’s office, with the current surplus coming from taxes collected above those estimates. Government reporter Randy Yohe has more on how those estimated amounts garner differing points of view of how they should be determined.

Also, officials say they have “positive momentum” toward restructuring the Department of Health and Human Resources, an offer from West Virginia American Water to purchase the city of Milton’s water system was rejected by city lawmakers Tuesday, the latest national assessment of academic ability shows a continued decline in student achievement nationwide and seven first responders received the state’s first round of Medal of Valor awards during a ceremony Wednesday afternoon.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Concord University, and Shepherd University.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Survey Results Reveal Mental Health Issues In W.Va.

The MATCH survey allows West Virginia community needs to be matched with health resources and provides information to support decision making on state and local levels.

Results from the first Mountain State Assessment of Trends in Community Health — or MATCH published Tuesday by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources and the West Virginia University Health Affairs Institute show younger West Virginians are struggling with mental health access.

The survey looks at multiple health aspects including physical health, health behavior, prescription opioids, the impact of COVID-19, but key insights from the first MATCH survey highlight mental health care in West Virginia.

Responses indicated the highest proportion of adults with poor mental health and highest ratios of people to mental health providers live in the southwest portion of the state.
Individuals 18 to 34 had the highest need to see a mental health care provider and highest share that did not see a provider because of expense.
Black respondents made up the highest share of individuals who did not see a mental health care provider citing discomfort talking to a mental health provider.

“Data is critical to understanding gaps in West Virginia’s behavioral health system,” said Christina Mullins, DHHR deputy secretary of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders. “Now that we know where vulnerable communities exist, together with our partners, we can focus on meeting their specific health needs with expansion of existing resources and funding for additional supports.”

The MATCH survey allows West Virginia community needs to be matched with health resources and provides information to support decision making on state and local levels.

The MATCH survey is conducted every two years, with the second survey period occurring from August 2023 to February 2024. At least 88,000 surveys will be mailed to randomly selected households in West Virginia starting August 2023. Those selected to participate will receive an invitation to complete the survey online, by mail, or by phone.

To learn more about the MATCH survey, visit wvmatchsurvey.org.

Inflation Adjustments Raise WIC Income Eligibility

A family of four can earn $55,500 and still qualify for WIC benefits, according to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR), Bureau for Public Health, Office of Nutrition Services. That’s an increase of $4,162 from 2022. These guidelines are adjusted for recent inflation over the past year.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the updated income eligibility guidelines for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children known commonly as WIC.

“Our goal is to provide nutritional services and information that help keep West Virginia families healthy,” said Dr. Matthew Christiansen, state health officer and commissioner for DHHR’s Bureau for Public Health. “West Virginia WIC serves more than 36,000 mothers and young children monthly. With the expanded income guidelines, we can serve more families.”

An additional 4,600 West Virginians could be served under the expanded WIC income eligibility guidelines. Families enrolled in the program receive nutrition education, breastfeeding education, nutritious foods, and access to maternal, prenatal and pediatric healthcare services that may otherwise be unavailable. West Virginia WIC serves 86 percent of all babies born in West Virginia.

The new income guidelines represent 185 percent above the federal poverty level for all 48 contiguous states.

Visit here for more information about West Virginia WIC. And here for more information regarding new USDA WIC eligibility guidelines.

EPA, State Agencies Move To Limit, Treat PFAS In Drinking Water

PFAS, called forever chemicals because they don’t break down, can be carcinogenic and prolonged exposure to them may lead to negative health effects.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing its first national standard limiting forever chemicals called PFAS in drinking water.

Meanwhile, two state agencies will collaborate with public water systems to treat drinking water for PFAS.

PFAS are a group of around 10,000 manmade chemicals that have been used to manufacture both industrial and consumer products. The U.S. Geological Survey found them in 67 of the state’s 279 raw water systems, with clusters in the Eastern Panhandle and Ohio River Valley.

The EPA’s proposal would establish legally enforceable levels for PFAS compounds known as PFOA and PFOS to four parts per trillion in water systems nationwide. Similar PFAS compounds like PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS and GenX Chemicals are also set to be regulated, though with less specific guidelines.

PFAS, called forever chemicals because they don’t break down, can be carcinogenic and prolonged exposure to them may lead to negative health effects.

“This action has the potential to prevent tens of thousands of PFAS-related illnesses and marks a major step toward safeguarding all our communities from these dangerous contaminants,” said EPA Administrator Michael Regan in a statement.

Last month, the EPA also sent nearly $18.9 million to West Virginia to address PFAS as part of its Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant Program.

The Department of Health and Human Resources Bureau of Public Health and the Department of Environmental Protection will develop a PFAS working group.

“A collaborative approach between DHHR, DEP, and our public water systems will be the most effective way to treat PFAS in our state,” said DEP Secretary Harold Ward in a statement.

Last week, the state legislature passed House Bill 3189, the PFAS Protection Act, which requires the state to identify sources of PFAS in drinking water and develop plans to treat it.

DHHR Split Bill Signed By Governor

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources is now officially becoming three separate agencies after Gov. Jim Justice signed House Bill 2006 into law Monday.

There will now be a Department of Human Services for programs like Child Protective Services, a Department of Health and a Department of Health Facilities for facilities like state run hospitals. Each agency will also have its own secretary to lead the agency.

“With the governor’s signature on House Bill 2006, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources is ready to implement and uphold the intent of the West Virginia Legislature,” Interim DHHR Cabinet Secretary Dr. Jeffrey H. Coben said. “Under the direction of Gov. Justice, we will work to ensure a seamless transition to a new organizational structure over the course of this next year. DHHR leadership and our dedicated staff look forward to working with all stakeholders to optimize the functions and services we provide to West Virginians.”

The DHHR has long been troubled but has come under fire in recent years for staffing shortages and other problems, compromising the care provided to children in the foster care system or those living in state hospitals.

The legislature attempted to split the agency up last year, but that bill was vetoed by Justice. After a number of interim legislative committee meetings, and the resignation of then Secretary Bill Crouch in December, the push picked up steam.

The overall agency has a collective budget of $7.5 billion, although much of that money is from Medicaid.

The bill takes effect in May, but the new departments are set to be in place by Jan. 1, 2024.

Senate Moves To Expand Oversight Of Department Of Health And Human Resources

The Senate once again turned its focus on the state’s health systems today by passing two bills, including one to expand their own oversight capabilities.

Senate Bill 730 would expand the oversight of the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability, often shortened to LOCHHRA.

Senate Health and Human Resources Chair Mike Maroney, R-Marshall, specified that the current code limits the committee’s oversight to programs that involve the physical, emotional or social wellbeing of citizens. The bill would expand oversight broadly to any program or area of concern in the DHHR, or any of its future successors.

“This bill also adds that LOCHHRA can investigate DHHR, but also can investigate any successor agencies. This language is important, as DHHR may be broken up into successor agencies this session,” Maroney said. “Language was added to the bill stating that LOCHHRA can investigate, study and review all matters or in any area of concern that exists within the DHHR or any successor agencies, including financial, administrative, programmatic and systemic issues.”

House Bill 2006, which would break up the DHHR into three distinct agencies, completed legislative action on Wednesday and is awaiting the governor’s signature.

Senate Bill 730 also allows LOCHHRA to require routine reporting or that reports be submitted on an as needed basis.

The Senate also took up Senate Bill 678, which would appropriate $1.2 million for the one-time setup costs related to Senate Bill 273, which the Senate passed Wednesday. Senate Bill 273 would reallocate the state’s child protective workers based on county population and caseload.

Near the end of the session, Sen. Charles Trump, R-Morgan, spoke in favor of the bill. Trump has spoken several times in recent weeks about the need for more child protective service workers in the Eastern Panhandle, and the complete lack of such officers in his home county of Morgan.

“I don’t want this session today to end without expressing my gratitude to the Finance Committee, and its chairman, for working on this and making that possible,” Trump said. “Many of us are hoping and praying that having this additional money will be part of the solution to the problem we have now in the state, Mr. President, where vulnerable children are at risk.”

Both bills, along with eight others passed by the chamber, now go to the House of Delegates for its consideration.