CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WVDN) – Governor Patrick Morrisey announced a $2.4 million award to Ascend WV to recruit and retain healthcare professionals in rural communities across West Virginia, one of several investments being made through the State’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP).
“We are moving quickly to put these historic resources to work improving healthcare outcomes for West Virginians,” said Governor Morrisey. “That starts with making sure our communities have the doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals they need. By strengthening our healthcare workforce, we can improve access to care, help West Virginians live healthier lives, and get more people healthy and back to work.”
This award marks an important step in implementing the State’s broader strategy to strengthen the healthcare workforce and improve access to care for West Virginians. Funded under Mountain State Care Force (MSCF), a key initiative of the WV RHTP, the investment is intended to recruit and retain healthcare providers in rural communities across West Virginia, helping more residents access high-quality care closer to home.
“The Trump Administration’s Rural Health Transformation Program is helping states like West Virginia develop innovative, locally driven solutions to improve rural Americans’ access to high-quality care,” said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. “This grant award demonstrates how this historic investment is empowering rural communities to strengthen their health systems, put patients first, and bring better care closer to home.”
Operated under West Virginia University, Ascend WV is expected to implement a statewide recruitment and relocation program designed to address healthcare workforce shortages in rural communities across West Virginia. The program will support the recruitment of licensed healthcare professionals through targeted outreach and provide relocation, retention, and community integration services such as housing navigation, spousal employment assistance, peer networking, and financial support. The performance-based model includes a goal of recruiting at least 125 licensed healthcare professionals to rural areas of West Virginia during the first year.
The initiative recognizes that recruiting healthcare professionals is only part of the solution. Long-term success depends on helping providers and their families build connections within the communities they call home. Through wrap-around support services, the program aims to support newly recruited professionals as they become active, long-term members of the communities they serve.
“We are excited to partner with Ascend WV to bring this critical initiative to life,” said Secretary of Health Dr. Arvin Singh. “Ascend WV’s expertise in relocation and workforce integration makes them an ideal partner to help healthcare professionals and their families establish roots in West Virginia communities. Through this initiative, we aim to build a stronger, more resilient healthcare workforce across the state.”
Additional RHTP program announcements are expected in the coming months as the State continues to implement its comprehensive strategy to modernize healthcare delivery and improve outcomes statewide.
This press release is supported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of the financial assistance award totaling $199,476,098.72 with 100% funded by CMS HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
