Cabell County, W.Va. – Governor Patrick Morrisey unveiled a nearly $17 million investment aimed at improving diabetes treatment, chronic‑disease care and rural health services throughout West Virginia. The funding package supports a range of projects, from nutrition programs and remote patient monitoring to apprenticeship training for rural health workers.
Key allocations
The awards break down as follows:
- $5,043,333 to the Marshall University Research Corporation for nutrition‑ and lifestyle‑based diabetes programs that combine diet therapy, medication support, coaching and behavioral services.
- $4,640,188 to the same university corporation to expand remote patient monitoring for West Virginians living with diabetes and hypertension, keeping patients and care teams connected between office visits.
- $2,795,000 to the West Virginia Primary Care Association to broaden diabetes management at community health centers, including nutrition coaching, food‑as‑medicine approaches, continuous glucose monitoring and remote monitoring.
- $1,753,646 to the Marshall University Research Corporation to develop and grow rural training programs in emergency medicine, physician‑assistant practice and pharmacy, strengthening the pipeline of health professionals serving rural areas.
- $1,544,313 to Cabell Huntington Hospital for expanded patient‑care coordination, helping rural patients navigate referrals, specialist scheduling and follow‑up care.
- $700,000 to ROAM West Virginia to recruit and train licensed practical nurse apprentices who will support remote monitoring and chronic‑disease care in rural communities.
- $500,000 to ROAM West Virginia to expand in‑home foot scanning and nursing review for high‑risk patients with diabetes or neuropathy in Barbour, Braxton and Doddridge counties.
Governor’s rationale
“Diabetes affects families and communities across West Virginia, and there is no single solution to improving outcomes,” Morrisey said in a news release. “We need to help people make healthier choices, give patients and providers better tools to manage chronic disease, identify complications earlier, and make sure our rural communities have the healthcare workforce they need. These investments put resources behind West Virginia organizations that know our communities and are ready to put them to work for our people.”
Impact on rural health
The funding targets the state’s most vulnerable areas, where limited access to specialists and transportation barriers have long hampered chronic‑disease management. By expanding remote monitoring and tele‑health capabilities, the projects aim to keep patients stable at home, reduce emergency‑room visits and lower overall health‑care costs.
Apprenticeship programs funded through ROAM West Virginia will create a pipeline of licensed practical nurses who can serve in underserved clinics, addressing the chronic shortage of health‑care workers in Appalachia. The foot‑scanning initiative seeks to prevent severe complications such as amputations by catching problems early.
Community response
Local health leaders and community advocates praised the initiative, noting that the combination of technology, education and workforce development reflects a comprehensive approach to a complex problem. “This is exactly the kind of targeted support our rural hospitals and health centers need,” said a spokesperson for the West Virginia Primary Care Association.
While the funding represents a significant boost, officials acknowledge that ongoing effort will be required to sustain improvements and expand services beyond the initial grant period.
Looking ahead
The state plans to monitor outcomes closely, measuring metrics such as hospital readmission rates, glucose‑control levels and the number of health‑care apprentices placed in rural clinics. Successful results could inform future allocations and serve as a model for other states confronting similar health challenges.
Original reporting: WCHS Eyewitness News Charleston (local) — read the source article.
