CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WVDN) – Governor Patrick Morrisey today announced that West Virginia has secured $199 million for 2026 through the Rural Health Transformation Fund, marking the beginning of a historic effort to rebuild and modernize healthcare across the state. The award, almost double the guaranteed minimum for the first year, reflects the strength, depth, and statewide focus of West Virginia’s plan to modernize rural healthcare delivery and improve outcomes for families and communities across the Mountain State.
Download & watch Governor Morrisey’s reaction to the announcment here.
“The $199 million investment for 2026 provides a transformative foundation to improve health outcomes, expand access to care, and strengthen families and communities throughout West Virginia,” Governor Morrisey said. “This award positions our state to deliver better care closer to home and build a healthier future for generations to come. It is also the highest per capita award of any state that West Virginia touches.”
“I want to thank President Trump, Secretary Kennedy, and Dr. Oz for recognizing the unique challenges facing rural communities and for supporting state-driven solutions that deliver real results,” Governor Morrisey said. “Their leadership helped make this transformational investment possible for West Virginia families. Hopefully, we will be able to retain those numbers for all five years of the program.”
As part of the development process, Governor Morrisey traveled across West Virginia to hold regional roundtables, gather public input, and host a statewide tele-townhall with more than 17,000 participants. The application, approved on Monday, incorporates those local perspectives and has received endorsements from more than 40 healthcare organizations across the state.
The approved application provides solutions to address:
– The distance between patients and providers.
– The lack of access of rural healthcare providers.
– Resources to support rural healthcare providers.
– Connecting West Virginians to the workforce as they become healthier.
– Preventing adverse health outcomes through nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle changes.
“This investment is a long-term commitment to building modern healthcare systems that work for rural communities and support economic growth across West Virginia,” added Dr. Arvin Singh, West Virginia Secretary of Health.
The $199 million investment for 2026 – more than the amount neighboring states Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania will receive next year – will reportedly be deployed strategically to enhance access to care, support the recruitment and retention of the healthcare workforce, expand telehealth services, and strengthen rural health systems statewide. The $199 million for the first year of the five year award period is also the highest per capita award of any state that West Virginia touches. The initiative is designed to deliver measurable improvements in health outcomes while supporting community stability and economic vitality.
