CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Governor Patrick Morrisey today announced a $2,000,026 West Virginia Rural Health Transformation Program (WV RHTP) award to the West Virginia University (WVU) Eye Institute through the State’s Connected Care Grid (CCG) initiative. The funding will establish a statewide teleophthalmology network to bring advanced medical technology and specialized eye care to patients across West Virginia, helping rural healthcare providers detect chronic diseases earlier and deliver better care closer to home.
"Where you live shouldn't determine the quality of healthcare you receive," Governor Morrisey said. "These investments will help doctors catch serious health problems earlier, give local healthcare providers better tools to care for their patients, and reduce the need for families to travel long distances for treatment. That's how we improve health outcomes, strengthen our healthcare system, and help more West Virginians get healthy and return to the workforce."
The project will establish a statewide teleophthalmology network that uses advanced eye screening to catch systemic chronic diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure early, protecting both overall health and sight in rural communities. New tools and local personnel will help care teams:
- Bring specialized eye screenings to doctors' offices and local health centers across West Virginia, including all 14 counties that currently lack a local eye doctor
- Set up four regional eye testing centers equipped with advanced diagnostic tools so patients can receive specialist monitoring without traveling long distances
- Recruit and train eight certified technicians directly from these rural communities to build long-term local capacity
- Connect positive screens with Population Health navigators for diabetes, nutrition, and transportation support
"We are excited to partner with the WVU Eye Institute because of their proven ability to bring specialist oversight and modern monitoring tools directly to rural clinics statewide," Dr. Arvin Singh, Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Health said. "Outpatient preventive screening builds the exact infrastructure needed to strengthen healthcare delivery for families in every corner of West Virginia."
“CMS is proud to work with states like West Virginia to deliver innovative, locally driven solutions as part of President Trump’s Rural Health Transformation Program,” said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. “These investments will bring high-quality care closer to home and build stronger, more connected rural health systems.”
For West Virginians living in rural communities, early screening for eye disease is critical to preventing vision loss and managing chronic conditions. By combining high-tech screening in local clinics with regional specialist access, this project will help West Virginians maintain their health, support local healthcare providers, and drive healthcare accessibility close to home.
Additional awards will be announced as the state continues investing in efforts to improve healthcare outcomes, expand access to care, strengthen the healthcare workforce, and help more West Virginians get healthy and return to work.
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.