Morrisey announces more than $8 million in Rural Health Transformation grants for WV

The state of West Virginia will allocate $1.1 million of its federal Rural Health Transformation program funds to Community Care of West Virginia, a federally qualified health center, and another $3.2 million for other investments to rural hospitals in the state, Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced Wednesday.

Another $4 million in Rural Health Funds will benefit the Minnie Hamilton Health Center in Grantsville, Morrisey announced. The funding will support the hospital’s new mobile healthcare unit, help the hospital deploy an autonomous drone delivery for supplies and will implement artificial intelligence-supported clinical documentation technology.

The funds for Community Care will be used to expand access to healthcare in rural communities, Morrisey’s office said.

Of the $1.1 million, the money will be divided between four efforts:

• $92,736 to upgrade telehealth technology and infrastructure supporting behavioral health, addiction medicine, maternal health, school-based health and medical weight management services
• $574,082 for a mobile healthcare unit providing primary care, preventive services, behavioral health, addiction medicine and care coordination in Braxton, Clay and Pocahontas counties 
• $82,432 to help current healthcare employees advance their careers through certifications, licensure programs, specialized training, and educational opportunities. 
• $354,364 to establish a statewide rural healthcare apprenticeship program combining paid employment with classroom instruction and hands-on clinical training. 

Morrisey announced the $3.3 million investment in healthcare innovation, provider productivity, workforce development, and care coordination initiatives during an event at Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital Wednesday. The investments will include: 

• Funding to deploy artificial intelligence-powered ambient clinical listening technology at five hospitals: Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital, Mon Health Marion Neighborhood Hospital, Preston Memorial Hospital, Plateau Medical Center and Webster Memorial Hospital. The technology can reduce documentation burden and allow providers to spend more time with patients, Morrisey’s office said
• Broaddus Hospital in Phillippi received funding to establish the Mansfield Place TeleHub Pilot, expanding access to specialty care, behavioral health services and urgent clinical consultation for rural skilled nursing residents through telemedicine technology.
• Vandalia Health received an additional award to help rural hospitals and clinics fill critical staffing shortages, support more than 100 healthcare staffing placements, and strengthen long-term recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals across West Virginia.

West Virginia received $199 million in federal dollars from the Rural Health Transformation Program for 2026. The five-year program from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid was part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which made historic cuts to healthcare and food assistance spending. 

The program aims to “empower states to transform the existing rural healthcare infrastructure and build sustainable healthcare systems that expand access, enhance quality of care and improve outcomes for patients,” according to CMS. 

Last week, Morrisey announced a $500,000 award from the Rural Health Transformation program to CHANGE, Inc, a Federally Qualified Health Center and Community Action Agency in Weirton, to implement provider productivity, care management, and artificial intelligence tools designed to improve patient care while reducing administrative demands on healthcare professionals. 

Morrisey has previously announced allocations of the funding will go toward the WVU Medicine Center for Nursing Education, the Ascend program and to support employer-based healthcare programs throughout the state, among other initiatives.