Governor Patrick Morrisey called on the West Virginia Legislature on Mar. 10 to quickly pass legislation that would allow the state to use $199 million in federal funds for its Rural Health Transformation Program. Morrisey said that delays could put important healthcare improvements at risk.
The governor said the program is a major opportunity for West Virginia to improve healthcare in rural areas. “West Virginia has been given a historic opportunity to strengthen rural healthcare,” said Governor Morrisey. “We already have the funding and we already have the plan. What we need now is legislative authorization so we can put these resources to work for the people of West Virginia.”
Morrisey spoke before healthcare professionals and leaders from across the state, stressing that moving forward with the program is urgent. The initiative aims to expand telehealth services, build up the rural healthcare workforce, modernize medical technology, and improve care coordination for chronic disease and behavioral health.
The $199 million in federal funding comes from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and must be used according to strict federal timelines and requirements. While waiting for legislative approval, Department of Health officials are using limited state funds to start planning efforts. Secretary Arvin Singh has hired four staff members to begin building out the program team but said progress is slow without access to all of the federal money.
“Every delay means providers waiting longer for the tools they need and communities waiting longer for the care they deserve,” said Department of Health Secretary Arvin Singh.
Improving access to rural healthcare is seen as important for supporting economic growth in West Virginia. Since October 2025, about $10.75 billion in private-sector investment and more than 9,600 projected jobs have come into the state, including a recent $4 billion Intelligence Center project in Bedington and a $250 million Hope Gas pipeline project in Mason County.
