Strategic Priorities
To deliver health and prosperity for rural residents, Governor Morrisey's RHT Program proposes three connected strategies:
Address health-related barriers to workforce participation. Poor health and disabilities are the largest drivers of West Virginia’s lowest-in-the-country labor force participation (50th). The state will attack these health-related barriers that hold back workforce participation by targeting interventions at working-age adults with chronic conditions – especially obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and addiction recovery – using prevention, treatment, and return-to-work programs. Expanding recovery and chronic care solutions (e.g., innovative SUD treatment, remote monitoring technologies), preventative personal health and onsite employee wellness programs, and flexible care access options will keep more West Virginians in the workforce longer for sustained access to employer-sponsored coverage that improves long-term health outcomes. This approach restores self-sufficiency and reduces reliance on government assistance while strengthening families and local economies.
Establish West Virginia as a center for rural health technology innovation and partnership. West Virginia will commit its resources to focusing on innovation to improve rural health, becoming a leader in healthcare system transformation. The state will partner with universities, entrepreneurs, and investors to test and scale technologies that make care accessible and affordable in rural settings. Successful models attract sustained private co-investment and position West Virginia as a national model for transformation. Care will focus on where individuals are, including schools and faith communities.
Improve access to care and sustainability of the healthcare system. Access will expand through better transportation, telehealth, and targeted workforce incentives – while payment reforms promote quality, value, affordability, and sustainability. These efforts ensure rural facilities remain viable anchors for care and employment, strengthening the West Virginia ecosystem.