LEWISBURG, W.Va. (WVDN) – The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) today congratulated West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey on securing $199 million from the Rural Healthcare Transformation Fund (RHTF).
Gov. Morrisey announced that West Virginia will receive funding in 2026 from the Trump Administration through the RHTF. Morrisey said the announcement marks the beginning of a historic effort to rebuild and modernize health care across the state.
WVSOM Leadership applauded the governor’s announcement, calling the funding a tremendous investment in West Virginia’s health care and thanking Morrisey for his efforts to secure additional funds for the state during the program’s initial year.
WVSOM President James W. Nemitz, Ph.D., and Drema Hill, Ph.D., the school’s vice president for community engagement and chief operations officer, were among the numerous health care and medical education leaders who participated in the West Virginia RHTF application process.
Nemitz said the plan will benefit all West Virginians, and the funding level demonstrates federal support for West Virginia’s approach.
“This funding will make a difference in the delivery of rural health care in our state,” Nemitz said. “The $199 million shows that the Governor’s Office submitted a strong application.”
During the application’s development, Morrisey traveled across West Virginia to hold regional roundtables, gather public input and host a statewide tele-town hall with more than 17,000 participants. The application incorporated those local perspectives and has received endorsements from more than 40 health care organizations across the state.
Hill praised Morrisey’s statewide, inclusive approach to getting as much input into the application process as possible.
“I am excited to see the national and state focus on rural health, especially on healthy lifestyles and the workforce,” Hill said. “WVSOM was pleased to be part of the application process, and we commend the Governor’s Office, the Department of Health under the leadership of Dr. Arvin Singh, and others who contributed to the very successful grant application.”
The Governor’s Office noted that the award was almost double the guaranteed minimum for the first year of the five-year program.
The $199 million investment for 2026 – more than neighboring states Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania will receive next year – will be deployed strategically to enhance access to care, support the recruitment and retention of the health care workforce, expand telehealth services, and strengthen rural health systems statewide. It was also the highest per capita award among any state that West Virginia touches.
“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,” Morrisey said. “This award positions our state to deliver better care closer to home and build a healthier future for generations to come.”
The Governor’s Office noted that funding for this program was made possible by President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which provides sustained resources over five years. West Virginia’s plan will focus on strengthening health care infrastructure, expanding access to primary and specialty care, addressing workforce shortages, improving coordination among providers and developing innovative delivery models tailored to rural communities.
