Governor Patrick Morrisey announced on Thursday, September 18, 2025, that according to the contributions of the West Virginians, he asked for the Federal Rural Health Transformation program. (West Virginia Office by Governor Patrick Morrisey | Highness photo)
Governor Patrick Morrisey asks public contributions to West Virginia’s application to millions of dollars of federal financing that are intended to aim for the health of rural areas.
The US centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services opened the application process for the 50 -billion dollar program for health health in rural health on Monday. The program is a determination of the one enormous lovely bill (HR 1), which has made historical cuts and changes to Medicaid and the Health Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace.
The law that President Donald Trump signed in July is expected that the expenditure for medicaid by federal doctors over 10 years will be reduced by almost 911 billion US dollars And lead to 10 million people who, according to KFF, lose health insurance by 2034.
The congress included rural health transformation funds in the legislation in response to the risk of rural hospitals due to the cuts.
According to the US centers for Medicare and Medicaid, the 50 billion dollar funds will be distributed to approved countries over the next five years, with 10 billion US dollars being distributed each year in 2026.
Half of the money is evenly distributed to states with approved applications. The other half is distributed on the basis of the individual metrics and applications of the states that “reflect the greatest potential for and the effects on health of rural communities”.
“This program is a historical investment that catalyzes the necessary changes in rural health systems and improves life for the coming generations.” The CMS administrator Dr. Mehmet OZ said in a press release. “Too long when it comes to access and infrastructure of the healthcare system, we have left the backbone of America back. This now ends with this program that triggers real changes for rural health care.”
During a press conference on Thursday, Morrisey said the program “West Virginia offers an incredible opportunity to move the needle to things that are really important to help our state. “
The state could receive 100 million US dollars a year from the fund in the next five years, said the governor.
“We have the opportunity to help our citizens to live a longer, healthier life. We have the opportunity to reverse some of the terrible health trends that we have seen and who have plagued our state for a long time,” said Morrisey. “I think the key to our application is to really focus on things that we can improve sensibly.”
Morrisey said his administration hoped to hear ideas for the application of the state of “all constituencies out there”.
“If you are a company and are interested and have different ideas, we would like to meet you,” he said. “If you are a trade association. We want to meet you. If you are part of the public and have good ideas, we would like to meet you.
“We always believe that we have this transparency and maintain the good ideas and use them to submit the best application, and one that I think about it can bring everyone together,” he said.
After West Virginia Center for household and politics, The Republican Megabill will lead 1 billion US dollars less per year in the federal health financing of West Virginia. According to WVCBP, some hospitals close their doors or reduce services.
In an explanation on Thursday, Ellen Allen, Managing Director of West Virginians for affordable health care, which opposed a great nice Bill Act, said and are pleased that West Virginia requested the financing. With the “devastating” 1.1 trillion US dollar health care, cuts, Funding will at least offer low -term support for fighting hospitals who work with lean margins, she said.
“But we have to be clear eyes: The funds of the rural health transformation fund will be less than 37% of the cuts against Medicaid and the provider tax that finances rural hospitals,” said Allen.
The applications from the states are due to the federal government by November 5. The Federal Government is expected to decide with awards by the end of the year.
Due to the tight deadline, Morrisey asked Rhtp@wv.gov until September 29th. https://governor.wv.gov.
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