Paving the Path Toward a Healthier Future

Toward a Healthier Future The Rural Health Transformation Plan aims to improve health outcomes in West Virginia.

Photographed by Carla Witt Ford For decades, West Virginia has experienced some of the worst health statistics in the nation. From diabetes and hypertension to obesity and addiction, we often fare worse than other states. But a vision is unfolding to pave a path toward a healthier future for the Mountain State and its residents.

West Virginia’s Rural Health Transformation Plan is a multi-pronged approach to help strengthen health care infrastructure across the state from 2026 through 2030, especially in the hills and hollows that so many call home. The plan takes into account the challenges, both geographical and cultural, that pose barriers to healthy living. But in outlining those challenges, the plan also identifies opportunities to meet people where they are, to improve access to care, and to inspire residents to break generations-long cycles of poor health outcomes.

“My overarching goal is to improve the health and resilience of West Virginia in ways that support greater workforce participation,” says Dr. Carrie Jeffries, director of the Rural Health Transformation Plan. “A common misconception is that rural West Virginians are disengaged from their health or workforce, when, in reality, many face significant structural barriers, including limited financial resources, transportation challenges, and difficult trade-offs between basic needs and medical care.”

As a nurse practitioner and health care administrator who has extensive experience delivering care and shaping policy for underserved populations, Jeffries has trained nurses and community health workers, developed clinical guidelines, expanded access to well-woman exams, and improved medication practices in low-resource environments. “Through targeted initiatives, we plan to expand local access to integrated medical and behavioral health services, strengthen transportation and care-coordinated systems, and support healthier lifestyles through nutrition and physical activity programs,” she says.

As the third most rural state in the country, the distance in West Virginia between patients and their providers can be challenging. But under the Connected Care Grid, the new health plan would improve access through telehealth at public spaces like schools and libraries. Additionally, mobile health care units would bring care to more areas, and the Rural Health Link would create bus and rideshare options to bring patients to providers.

The plan also aims to improve the pipeline of providers, in recognition of the fact that 22% of rural practitioners in the state are nearing retirement age. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and existing workers would receive training to provide a wider range of care. Recruitment would amp up at high schools and regional and technical colleges, and financial incentives would be provided to attract and retain providers. For existing rural providers, support will be given to improve technology and to manage expenses.

A statewide health challenge, the Personal Health Accelerator, would reward communities that improve themselves through nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle changes. While residents are building healthier lives, the plan will connect them with jobs they can perform while their chronic conditions are being managed. Known as the Health to Prosperity Pipeline, the plan supports addiction treatment and workplace health and wellness programs.

“We understand that each West Virginia county and individual is unique,” Jeffries says. “For this reason, activities will be utilized differently amongst the various communities and populations. We will continue to listen to providers and community members about what is going well, what could use improvement, and how we plan to accomplish those changes.”

While the specific details of the plan are still being unveiled, Governor Patrick Morrisey’s office has touted $500 million or more in funding. The first round of RHTP Announcements of Funding Availability for year one—totalling $28.56 million—includes six unique funding opportunities across various initiatives: four in the Mountain State Care Force, one in HealthTech Appalachia, and one in Connected Care Grid. These initiatives were designed to together expand the West Virginia workforce, improve health care outcomes, support technological advancements in health care, and better connect rural communities to the systems and services they need.

Several bills passed during the 2026 state legislative session establish a foundation of support for these initiatives, including House Bill 4982, which creates the West Virginia Food is Medicine Coalition. Medicaid members will gain access to medically tailored meals, prescriptions for fresh produce, nutrition counseling, grocery provisions, and nutrition care management to support overall health and well-being.

The bill also created the Office of Healthy Lifestyles within the Department of Health to coordinate wellness initiatives across state agencies, including the departments of agriculture, education, and human services. The office will map food desert zones, study the health impact of food additives, and identify local food vendors. In coordination with the Department of Education, a Farm to School program will provide farm-fresh produce to students and place a greater emphasis on physical education in schools.

“I am deeply committed to serving the people of West Virginia, particularly in rural areas with significant unmet clinical and behavioral health needs,” Jeffries says. “These communities are resilient, welcoming, and highly receptive to care delivered by trusted providers. My experience has reinforced the importance of building strong relationships to deliver compassionate, patient-centered care to individuals facing complex medical, social, and access challenges.”

For more information, visit governor.wv.gov/rht

Paving the Path Toward a Healthier Future

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