Tag: West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey

State Official Aims to Lower Prescription Drug Abuse

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey plans to purchase incinerators for the disposal of unwanted and expired prescription medication in a state that leads the nation in the rate of overdose deaths.

Morrisey announced the move Tuesday as part of an initiative to reduce prescription drug use in West Virginia by at least 25 percent.

According to Morrisey’s office, the incinerators will cost $6,300 apiece, paid for by the attorney general’s Public Health Trust.

Morrisey also urged doctors to regularly monitor patients’ use of opioid drugs and asked pharmacists to verify the legitimacy of each prescription, patient and prescriber as well as the proper dispensing of medications. The proposal doesn’t involve seriously or terminally ill patients.

Morrisey says West Virginia had nearly 700 drug overdose deaths last year.

Public Comments on Hospitals' Merger Overwhelmingly Negative

None of the 18 letters sent to the West Virginia Attorney General’s office recently were in favor of a proposal to merge two Huntington hospitals.

News outlets report that during the 10-day comment period, which ended April 18, all of the comments, including one from the Federal Trade Commission, expressed concerns over Cabell Huntington Hospital’s proposed acquisition of St. Mary’s Medical Center.

The comments argued the merger would create a monopoly, thereby eliminating competition in Huntington and leading to higher prices.

The West Virginia Health Care Authority and Attorney General Patrick Morrisey are now tasked with weighing the potential loss of competition with the benefits that hospital officials say the merger will bring to the community.

The authority and Morrisey have until June 8 to issue a written decision.

West Virginia AG Transfers $10M for Anti-Drug Efforts

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey says he’s transferring $10 million from his office’s consumer protection fund to the state’s general fund for substance abuse treatment efforts and to reduce a backlog of state police crime lab drug tests.

Morrisey announced the transfer Tuesday.

Morrisey says in a news release that it marks the fifth time that his office has voluntarily returned money to the general fund totaling $33.5 million. Last month he returned $5 million.

Morrisey says eliminating addiction to heroin and prescription drugs “demands a financial commitment.”

West Virginia had the nation’s highest death rates from drug overdoses in 2014.

Comments Taken on Proposed Hospital Takeover

  The public can comment on Cabell Huntington Hospital’s proposed acquisition of St. Mary’s Medical Center.

Attorney General Patrick Morrisey says the public comment period runs through April 18. The attorney general’s office will review the comments in conjunction with the state Health Care Authority.

Last month Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin signed a bill to exempt the acquisition from state and federal antitrust laws if a cooperative agreement is approved by the Health Care Authority and Morrisey’s office.

The Federal Trade Commission in November opposed the merger, saying it would raise costs and lower health care quality by creating a monopoly.

In November 2014, Cabell Huntington agreed to assume control of St. Mary’s after the Pallottine Missionary Sisters ended their sponsorship of the hospital after 90 years.

Morrisey Outlines Next Steps in Hospital Merger

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey today outlined the next steps involved in the proposed merger between Cabell Huntington Hospital and St.…

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey today outlined the next steps involved in the proposed merger between Cabell Huntington Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital in Huntington

The merger was announced in August 2014. Morrisey said he will defend and enforce the recently passed Senate Bill 597 governing mergers, against any challenge made by the Federal Trade Commission.

The FTC sought to block the merger last November, but Morrisey believes that the recent passage of Senate Bill 597 strengthens an agreement already reached by his office and both hospitals. According to Morrisey the merger is now immune from federal and state antitrust laws as long as it receives a certificate of approval from the state Health Care Authority and the Attorney General.

Cabell Huntington submitted its application for the certificate of approval March 25th. It remains under review between the AG’s office and the Health Care Authority. The offices have 75 days, from the date of the application to make a decision. 

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, with support from the Benedum Foundation.

AG Hopeful Puts $235K of Own Money in Campaign

Democrat Doug Reynolds has put about $235,000 of his own money into his bid against first-term Republican Attorney General Patrick Morrisey.

The West Virginia House delegate reported his campaign finance totals late last week.

Reynolds spent about $239,000 of the $253,100 he brought by writing checks to his campaign and soliciting some donations. He has spent largely on TV advertising.

Morrisey has about $648,400 in his campaign account. He put $250,000 of his money into the campaign last spring. Morrisey has raised $472,100, including $160,600 since late last March.

Reynolds entered the race in January. Both candidates are unopposed in the May 10 primary election.

Exit mobile version