AGP Executive Report

Measles Exposure: A measles patient visited Wheeling Hospital’s emergency room, prompting health officials to warn potentially exposed patients and staff to watch for symptoms into November. Insurance Access: ACA enrollment in West Virginia is declining, and nationwide insurer exits could leave some 2027 marketplace customers automatically assigned plans with different doctors, hospitals and drug coverage. Rural Care: Memorial Health marked the final-beam milestone for a new 16-bed Sistersville hospital, expected to open by the end of 2027. Gov. Morrisey also announced $500,000 to bolster mental health and addiction recovery services in Eastern West Virginia. Addiction Recovery: Hancock County revised the planned use of $500,000 in opioid settlement funds for Family Care Ministries, aiming to ease delays in getting support to affected families. Mental Health: West Virginia ranked highest for seasonal-depression risk in a new state-by-state study. WVU: Former Mountaineers coach Bob Huggins’ family says he is living with a progressive cognitive condition.

Behavioral Health: Gov. Patrick Morrisey awarded $500,000 to Potomac Highlands Guild to strengthen mental health and addiction services across eight Eastern West Virginia counties, using technology to connect patients with care and spot needs earlier. Measles Alert: Wheeling Hospital says patients and staff exposed to a measles case are being monitored into November; local health officials have issued exposure warnings. Student Support: Wheeling Park is the state’s first high school to launch Teen Mental Health First Aid, teaching students to recognize warning signs and alert trusted adults. Rural Care: West Virginia’s rural health grants include $3.4 million for WVU Health System and nearly $12 million for expanded Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and addiction treatment at WVU’s Neuroscience Institute. Prevention: A new study ranks West Virginia highest for seasonal depression risk, underscoring the importance of mental health support as winter approaches.

Measles Alert: Wheeling-Ohio County health officials are contacting patients and staff potentially exposed after a person with measles visited Wheeling Hospital’s emergency room on Oct. 17. The CDC reported 4,588 U.S. cases through Oct. 22, including cases in West Virginia. Rural Health Funding: West Virginia’s Rural Health Transformation programs are moving ahead, including $3.4 million in awards to WVU Health and West Virginia United Health. Ascension Recovery Services also received $1.5 million to help people recovering from substance use disorder return to work in nine counties. Care Access: A new Calhoun County healthcare training program will launch with $5.7 million in federal funding, while reporting warns that declining Affordable Care Act enrollment could leave more West Virginians without coverage. Health Research: A $11.9 million grant will expand Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and addiction treatment at WVU’s Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute. Obesity: West Virginia was one of only two states where adult obesity fell significantly in 2025, according to a national report.

Measles Alert: A visitor to WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital’s emergency room on Oct. 17 tested positive for measles. The hospital and health department are contacting exposed patients and staff; symptoms may appear into early November. Rural Health: West Virginia awarded more than $3.4 million in rural health grants to WVU Health. Ascension Recovery Services also received $1.5 million to help people recovering from substance use disorder find and keep jobs in nine counties. Specialty Care: A $11.9 million grant will expand Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and addiction treatment at WVU’s Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute. Princeton Community Hospital also earned chest-pain certification for its emergency care. Care Close to Home: West Virginia Health Right’s free care day drew hundreds for medical, dental and vision services, while Bonnie’s Bus is scheduling mobile mammograms in communities statewide.

Coverage Crunch: West Virginia’s ACA plan selections fell 17% year over year, with monthly premiums averaging $1,314—the nation’s highest, according to a new report. A commentary warns that nearly $200 million in rural health funding can’t replace Medicaid coverage, with state losses projected to exceed $5.3 billion. Rural Care: The state is beginning to distribute Rural Health Transformation awards, including more than $3.4 million for WVU Health System programs. A separate $5.7 million federal grant will support a healthcare training center in Grantsville, while nearly $12 million will expand Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and addiction treatment at WVU’s Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute. Public Health: Wheeling-Ohio County health officials are notifying people who may have been exposed to measles during a visit to a local hospital. Medication Alert: Viatris recalled nearly 22,000 bottles of telmisartan-amlodipine blood pressure tablets because some may contain too much telmisartan; the FDA classifies the recall as unlikely to cause adverse health effects.

Medication Safety: The FDA says Viatris is recalling 21,620 bottles of telmisartan/amlodipine after some tablets were found to potentially contain too much telmisartan. The Class III recall covers five lots; check the lot number with a pharmacist before using affected medication. Local Health Alerts: A raccoon found in Ohio County tested positive for rabies, the county’s fourth confirmed case. Health officials urge residents to keep pets’ vaccinations current and avoid wildlife acting strangely. Wheeling-Ohio County health officials also warned of possible measles exposure tied to a hospital visit. Rural Care: West Virginia is starting to distribute rural health transformation grants, including more than $3.4 million in awards, while an $11.9 million federal grant will expand WVU’s Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute and support treatment for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and addiction. Coverage Costs: West Virginia had the nation’s highest ACA premiums in 2026, and plan selections fell 17% from last year, according to a ValuePenguin report. Health Update: Bob Huggins’ family says the former WVU coach has a progressive cognitive condition affecting his memory and daily life.

Neuroscience Investment: WVU’s Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute received an $11.934 million federal grant to establish a brain therapeutics center and expand care for conditions including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and addiction. Rural Health: More than $3.4 million in state awards will help WVU Health support patients with diabetes and high blood pressure at home and ease rural hospital staffing pressures; one program aims to reach 1,200 patients across all 55 counties in its first year. Measles Alert: Health officials are contacting people who may have been exposed at Wheeling Hospital on Oct. 17 after a visitor tested positive. Unvaccinated people face the greatest risk. Screening Access: Bonnie’s Bus will offer mammograms at clinics around the state in November, with help available for eligible uninsured women. WVU’s mobile lung screening unit will also visit Randolph and Upshur counties. Care and Training: West Virginia Health Right’s free medical event in Charleston drew hundreds, while a Calhoun County nonprofit plans a rural healthcare training program with $5.7 million in federal funding.

Measles Alert: A person who visited Wheeling Hospital on Oct. 17 has tested positive for measles. Health officials say they’ll contact identified exposures; people who are unvaccinated face the greatest risk. Rural Care: More than $3.4 million in rural health awards is going to WVU Health System, while a Calhoun County nonprofit won a $5.7 million federal grant to train healthcare workers. Cancer Screening: WVU Medicine’s mobile lung cancer unit will visit Mill Creek, Rock Cave and Buckhannon Nov. 10–13. Bonnie’s Bus will offer mammograms in six counties Nov. 9–13. Appointments are required. Water Safety: Berkeley Springs lifted its system-wide boil-water advisory after tests came back satisfactory. Customers should flush their lines for about five minutes before normal use. Care Oversight: A lawsuit alleges failures in care at a Charleston group home contributed to the death of a resident with profound disabilities. The allegations have not been proven in court.

Cancer Screening: WVU Medicine’s mobile lung-screening unit will visit Randolph and Upshur counties Nov. 10–13; Bonnie’s Bus will offer 3D mammograms in six counties Nov. 9–13, with free screenings available to eligible uninsured women 40 and older. Free Care: More than 400 people received medical, dental or vision services at West Virginia Health Right’s Charleston event. Clinic leaders say need may rise as Medicaid work requirements begin in January; a state analysis estimated about 33,000 residents could be affected. Rural Health: Gov. Morrisey announced more than $3.4 million in Rural Health Transformation awards for WVU Health. Mountain Laurel Medical Center is marking 20 years of providing primary care regardless of ability to pay, including in Preston County. Workforce: Project Health expanded career assistance to McDowell, Mercer, Mingo and Summers counties, helping healthcare students cover costs such as transportation, scrubs and school materials. Community Care: Shenandoah Community Health served about 30,000 patients in more than 104,000 visits last year. Sen. Capito met with the center about Medicaid, federal grants and the 340B prescription drug program.

Rural Care: Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced more than $3.4 million for WVU Health System programs to support rural hospital staffing and help patients manage chronic conditions at home. A diabetes and blood-pressure initiative aims to reach about 1,200 people in its first year across all 55 counties. Cancer Screening: WVU Medicine’s mobile LUCAS lung-screening unit will visit Randolph and Upshur counties Nov. 10–13; Bonnie’s Bus will offer breast screening in six counties Nov. 9–13. Appointments and insurance pre-authorization are required. Workforce: A new Grantsville training center, backed by a $5.7 million federal grant, will prepare healthcare workers for 14 rural counties. Free Care: Hundreds sought help at West Virginia Health Right’s annual clinic in Charleston, with vision and dental care among the biggest needs. Water Safety: Most Berkeley Springs Water Works customers remain under a boil-water advisory as officials test the system and check whether local restaurants can safely operate. Prevention: Residents can drop off unwanted prescriptions at local Drug Take Back Day sites Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Water Safety: Berkeley Springs’ boil-water advisory now covers nearly all town customers after a major leak. Residents should boil water for drinking, brushing teeth and infant formula; health officials are checking local food businesses. Breast Cancer Screening: Bonnie’s Bus will bring 3D mammograms to Mercer, McDowell, Lincoln, Hampshire, Grant and Harrison counties Nov. 9–13. Eligible uninsured West Virginia women 40 and older can receive screenings free. Community Care: West Virginia Health Right’s free dental, vision and medical clinic drew hundreds this weekend. Health Center Funding: Monongahela Valley Association of Health Centers received $500,000 to modernize services at clinics in Fairmont, Shinnston and Mannington. Food Safety: A salmonella-related jalapeño recall has spread to West Virginia, affecting prepared foods made with the peppers.

Mobile Breast Screening: WVU Medicine’s Bonnie’s Bus will bring 3D mammograms to Mercer, McDowell, Lincoln, Hampshire, Grant and Harrison counties Nov. 9–13. Uninsured West Virginia women 40 and older may qualify for free screenings; appointments are required. Community Care: Monongahela Valley Association of Health Centers received $500,000 to upgrade technology and operations at clinics in Fairmont, Shinnston and Mannington. Caregiver Well-Being: A Vienna conference gave mothers of children with special needs time, peer support and tools to manage stress and mental health. Access to Services: West Virginia Health Right hosted a free day of medical, dental and vision care, while state funding also supports expanded rural mental health and addiction recovery services. Medicaid Dental Coverage: A Harvard analysis found states may save only 20 to 50 cents for each dollar of adult dental benefits they cut, as the rest comes from federal funding.

Free Care: West Virginia Health Right hosted #WeCareWV Day, offering free dental, vision and medical services. Expanding Access: WVU Eye Institute received $2 million to expand eye care statewide, and Mon Health Medical Center secured $5.5 million in federal support. Gov. Patrick Morrisey also announced nearly $2.2 million for community health centers and $2 million to grow the state’s teleophthalmology network. Mental Health and Recovery: Morrisey announced $500,000 for services in eastern West Virginia. Separately, a report found opioid-use-disorder diagnoses among commercially insured Americans rose nearly 33% in three years, with West Virginia and Tennessee recording the highest rates. Vaccine Dispute: Nebraska’s attorney general led a 16-state brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to hear a West Virginia family’s challenge to vaccination requirements for virtual public-school attendance. The student was disenrolled for not meeting the requirements.

Free Care: West Virginia Health Right’s #WeCareWV Day drew hundreds for free dental, vision and medical services in Charleston. The clinic serves about 48,000 people across 35 counties; organizers say need is rising as many residents struggle with costs and lose insurance coverage. Care Expansion: The state announced $2 million to expand teleophthalmology and nearly $2.2 million for community health centers. Mon Health Medical Center also received $5.485 million for infrastructure upgrades. Behavioral Health: A new White Sulphur Springs clinic will provide autism services for children and families in Greenbrier County and nearby communities. Separately, Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced $500,000 for mental health and addiction recovery services in eastern West Virginia. Child Safety: West Virginia joined seven other states in suing OpenAI, alleging ChatGPT harmed young users and misled the public about safety. The lawsuits claim the chatbot reinforced delusions and encouraged dangerous behavior; OpenAI says it has age-specific protections.

Hospital Investment: Sen. Shelley Moore Capito announced nearly $5.5 million for Mon Health Medical Center’s building repairs and infrastructure upgrades, aimed at supporting care in Morgantown and surrounding communities. Rural Eye Care: WVU Eye Institute received $2 million to build a statewide teleophthalmology network, bringing screenings to local clinics and targeting 14 counties without a local eye doctor. Autism Services: A new White Sulphur Springs clinic will provide behavioral therapy for children with autism, reducing travel for Greenbrier County families. Recovery Support: Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced $500,000 for mental health and addiction recovery services in eastern West Virginia, alongside funding for recovery-to-work programs and community health centers. Child Safety: West Virginia Attorney General John McCuskey joined seven states suing OpenAI, alleging ChatGPT’s design puts children at risk and misleads users about safety.

Rural Eye Care: WVU Eye Institute received $2 million to build a statewide teleophthalmology network, bringing screenings to local clinics in 14 counties without an eye doctor and helping detect problems sooner. Free Care: West Virginia Health Right is offering free services at its annual We Care Day on Saturday. Autism Services: A new White Sulphur Springs ABA clinic aims to give children with autism and their families in Greenbrier County and nearby communities more local support. Youth Wellness: West Liberty University’s new after-school program serves middle schoolers with homework help, healthy snacks, activities and wellness support, using a $249,000 grant from opioid settlement funds. Health Investments: State grants include nearly $2.2 million for community health centers and $500,000 for mental health and addiction recovery services in eastern West Virginia. Training the Next Workforce: New River Community and Technical College’s nursing program earned initial accreditation, supporting the state’s future supply of nurses.