Manchin, Capito Announce $1 Million For Primary Care Education Programs In West Virginia

Charleston, WV – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $1,075,002 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to Community Health Systems in Beckley. This funding is allocated through the Affordable Care Act and will support the facility’s Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Payment Program, which establishes or expands primary care residency programs throughout rural and underserved communities in West Virginia.

“While we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s more important than ever to ensure every West Virginian has access to quality, affordable healthcare regardless of where they live. In order to provide quality care, we must have a robust health workforce, especially in rural communities across the Mountain State. This funding will support the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Payment Program, which helps train primary care physicians to serve in rural or underserved communities. This is good news for our rural communities, and I will continue to fight for funding to expand rural healthcare and establish a strong healthcare workforce in West Virginia,” said Senator Manchin.

“This past year has shown how critical it is that we increase opportunities and encourage more people to join the health care field, especially in our more rural communities,” Senator Capito said. “I’m glad to see this funding headed to Beckley to help expand the number of residency training positions, ultimately resulting in more primary care options in the area. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate to deliver better health care at lower costs to West Virginians.”