Office of Rural Health Receives Nearly $200,000 in Federal Funding

The West Virginia office of Rural Health will receive nearly $200,000 in federal funding intended to help workforce development and provider placement in rural, underserved areas.

U.S. Senator Joe Manchin said in a press release Thursday he hopes the grant will improve access to healthcare for rural communities throughout West Virginia.

According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, it would take 25 percent more providers than are currently available in West Virginia to meet the state’s rural healthcare needs.

In order to be eligible for the federal grant, West Virginia had to demonstrate they could match the grant on a 3 to 1 basis. The 172,000 grant is intended to last five years. The money is immediately available. 

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, with support from the Benedum Foundation.