Healthcare – Mountain State Magazine

Gov. Justice announces $43 million to help thousands of businesses with cost of providing healthcare

Beth Sturges — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 22:01:00 +0000

CHARLESTON, WV – Gov. Jim Justice joined West Virginia health leaders and other officials Monday for his latest daily press briefing regarding the State’s COVID-19 response.

During the briefing, Gov. Justice announced that, at his direction, West Virginia Insurance Commissioner Jim Doddrill has approved $43 million in premium credits on all small and large group healthcare plans of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield in West Virginia.

The credit will help nearly 3,000 small and large West Virginia businesses with the cost of offering group healthcare plans in the midst of the ongoing pandemic.

“This approval will enable Highmark to provide each of its small and large commercial group policy holders a one-time credit in consideration of the difficulties experienced by West Virginia businesses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Gov. Justice said. “This is really good stuff for a whole lot of businesses and great West Virginian workers.”

The Governor added that the total insurance premium relief that has been implemented for West Virginia consumers and businesses due to COVID-19 is now more than $140 million.

WV Support for Mental-Health Alternatives in 9-1-1 Calls

Beth Sturges — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 20:43:00 +0000

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Mental and behavioral health practitioners in West Virginia are endorsing legislation in Congress to fund the use of social workers in tandem with police on some 911 calls. The Community-Based Response Act of 2020 would provide $100 million to support alternative responses to some types of 911 calls by deploying social workers instead of police.

Sam Hickman, executive director at the National Association of Social Workers in West Virginia, said some police responses escalate into violence when calls involve mental illness, emotional distress or addiction, because police are being asked to resolve situations for which they’re often not trained.

“The police can’t be expected to intervene in every single problem in society. They should be asked to intervene and to keep us safe when there are people that we’re really afraid of,” Hickman said. “Their skills don’t broadly include everything that we’re asking them to do; they need support from other professionals to do that.”

The bill is intended to complement the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which the U.S. House passed in June but is stuck amid partisan gridlock in the Senate. NASW chapters are concerned this bill might see the same fate if it passes in the House.

Hickman pointed to some West Virginia programs that could benefit from the bill’s funding. One is a successful collaboration in Martinsburg that teams mental-health professionals with law enforcement and the education system. It support kids with multiple risk factors, including those in families where there are opioid addictions.

He said another new program is starting in Charleston.

“The City of Charleston is just in the process of hiring a mental health coordinator, that is specifically to address issues that shouldn’t become a policing problem, but too often do,” he said. “So this will be an opportunity to intervene in a preventive way, earlier on, to keep things from spinning out of control.”

Almost 70% of likely voters support creating non-law-enforcement emergency responder programs, according to a new survey from the Justice Collaborative Institute. And 65% say they support a non-police response to drug overdose calls.

Disclosure: NASW West Virginia Chapter contributes to our fund for reporting on Children’s Issues, Health Issues, Mental Health. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.

WV’s Opioid Crisis Impacts Surge of Kids without Health Coverage

Beth Sturges — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 20:49:00 +0000

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Even before the pandemic recession, West Virginia had seen a serious increase in the number of children without health insurance. Now, that number is expected to be even worse, according to a new report.

In 2019, an estimated 13,000 kids in the Mountain State went without health coverage, an almost 45% hike in three years, according to a Georgetown University Center for Children and Families report. Jessica Ice, executive director at West Virginians for Affordable Healthcare, said it’s one of the highest increases in the nation – and she’s concerned the lack of coverage will have long-term repercussions.

“We know there’s numerous studies that tell us that kids who get their regular health care – their well-child visits, their vaccinations – that they perform better in school, they go on to live more successful lives,” Ice said.

She said the state’s opioid crisis, which caused a growth in the number of foster kids, played a major role in the lack of coverage, as children can fall out of the healthcare system when being shuffled between foster homes.

West Virginia’s rate of uninsured kids was below the national average, but it increased more than a full percentage point from 2016 to 2019.

Joan Alker, executive director of the Georgetown Center, pointed out the Trump administration’s attempts to take apart the Affordable Care Act – including eliminating funding for outreach – may have discouraged families from trying to get coverage.

“Families have been getting negative messages that coverage is going away, at the same time that community-based resources to help them find public coverage have shrunk,” Alker said.

Nationwide, about 4 million children didn’t have health insurance in 2019, an increase of about 726,000. The report says this reverses years of national progress, wiping out much of the gain in coverage since the Affordable Care Act took effect in 2014.Disclosure: Georgetown University Center for Children & Families contributes to our fund for reporting on Children’s Issues, Health Issues. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.

ACA Challenge Threatens Loss of Coverage for Thousands in WV

Beth Sturges — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 21:00:00 +0000

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — As the Supreme Court gets set to hear another challenge to the Affordable Care Act in November, experts say taking away the federal health insurance plan – especially during a pandemic – will hit West Virginians hard.

The state’s attorney general, Patrick Morrisey, is part of the lawsuit that aims to repeal the law, which provides health insurance to more than half a million people in the Mountain State.

Rick Wilson, director of the American Friends Service Committee’s West Virginia Economic Justice Project, said striking down the law would pose a major hardship for the state’s aging and low-income populations. It could also make its substance abuse crisis even worse.

“People know West Virginia is kind of ground zero for the opioid epidemic, and the ACA has opened up the path to treatment for many, many people,” Wilson said. “And there’s hard science research that shows that states that have expanded Medicaid have seen a drop in overdose deaths.”

He said West Virginia expanded Medicaid in 2014, which provided ACA coverage to more than 160,000 people. That number includes low-income working folks who now make up the essential workforce people are relying on during the coronavirus pandemic.

Wilson said repealing the ACA also would hurt the thousands of West Virginians with pre-existing conditions. And that won’t just affect older folks, he said.

“There are around 20,000 young people in the state who are covered by their parents’ insurance up to age 26. And that’s a part of the ACA,” Wilson said. “If the ACA is undone, then, you know, insurance companies could back out of that deal.”

According to federal data, after the ACA was passed, the uninsured rate in West Virginia fell from 14% in 2013 to a little over 5% in 2016.

The Supreme Court will hear the Texas-led challenge to the law on November 10, just one week after Election Day.

WV Recommends Use of Smartphone App for Pandemic Drug Treatment

Beth Sturges — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 21:04:00 +0000

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Spurred by concern that folks battling substance abuse can’t always get in-person treatment during the pandemic, West Virginia is highlighting telehealth options to help providers better support their patients.

At this month’s state social-work convention, Bob Hansen, executive director of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources’ Office of Drug Control Policy, urged treatment providers to get their patients to download its “Connections” app for cellphones.

The app gives folks in recovery a personal touch, from peer support to one-to-one messaging, which Hansen said is especially needed during this time of social distancing.

“There’s been an early study that, really,” said Hansen, “access to treatment has not been dramatically reduced and the good reason has been the use of telemedicine and the technologies.”

A recent study in Appalachia shows women with substance abuse disorders who used the Connections app stayed in treatment longer than those who didn’t.

Although telehealth is a prime support for people with addiction problems during the pandemic, statistics show the number of overdoses since March has risen in West Virginia and across the nation.

To counter this, Hansen pointed out his group is also working to get more Naloxone on the streets.

“We’re working with homeless agencies, health departments and treatment providers to get as much Naloxone out there” said Hansen. “So that, if people are still using drugs and if they overdose, our goal is to save as many lives as possible.”

Emergency medical responses to suspected drug overdoses in West Virginia soared to more than a thousand in May, at the height of the pandemic. In June, the number dropped to about 850, but that’s almost 200 more than the same time last year.

West Virginians Hit by Coronavirus Job Loss Could Gain Medicaid

Beth Sturges — Wed, 27 May 2020 20:56:00 +0000

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — Some West Virginians may not be aware that if they’ve lost their jobs and employer-provided health insurance due to COVID-19, they could be eligible for coverage under the state’s Medicaid expansion.

A family of four making less than about $3,000 a month can qualify for Medicaid in West Virginia, which now provides health insurance for about one in three residents, according to Jessie Ice, executive director of West Virginians for Affordable Health Care. She said if you’re collecting unemployment benefits, the federal portion of $600 a week doesn’t count towards household income for Medicaid eligibility.

“A lot of folks don’t know what they qualify for, so they’re not looking to get coverage,” she said. “The COVID crisis has highlighted for a lot of people that there are options out there.”

She said people can find out if they qualify online, on the West Virginia Navigator website, and that on the state government’s web portal, wvpath.org, they can find out about other forms of support, such as SNAP food assistance.

A report from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families shows the number of uninsured children in West Virginia increased 44% between 2016 and 2018. Ice attributed the rise to the widespread use of opioids that has seen many children enter the foster-care system when their parents can’t take care of them.

“So, we think there are some things about re-enrollment, due in a large part to the opioid crisis and unstable family households, that probably plays a pretty big role in it,” she said.

Ice said that West Virginia kids have benefited from Medicaid expansion, and only about 3.5% of them are uninsured. But that number is expected to rise, as the state’s unemployment rate skyrocketed from 5% to 15% during the coronavirus crisis.

The Georgetown report is online at ccf.georgetown.edu, and the West Virginia children’s health care report card is at kidshealthcarereport.ccf.georgetown.edu.

What to Do if Prescription Prices Rise Due to COVID-19

Beth Sturges — Thu, 16 Apr 2020 21:33:00 +0000

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Anecdotal reports show that prices have risen for a number of common drugs because of the COVID-19 crisis.

So one senior advocacy group is offering advice on how to find the best deal.

Mary Johnson, Social Security and Medicare policy analyst for The Senior Citizens League says — as just one example – her organization has reports of significant price hikes for the diabetes drug Lantus.

“The insurers learn sometimes prior to the shortage being reported,” she states. “So it could very well be that they are pre-emptively raising prices in anticipation of disruptions in the supply chain.”

The Food and Drug Administration is reporting a COVID-related shortage of albuterol inhalers, which help people with pneumonia to breathe.

Normally they cost $45 to $50 each, but now are commanding $80 on some mail order sites.

In addition, consumers who order prescription medications online have seen price hikes of up to 15% and months-long delays in delivery.

Johnson says doctors’ offices sometimes give out free samples, and notes that prices vary widely among online retailers, drug store chains and local pharmacies.

“I would very strongly recommend everyone be proactive,” she stresses. “They call to find out what those prices are, and make any adjustments they need to on automatic shipments. “

Consumers also can check to see if the drug maker has a program to help low-income people get their medications. You can call your state Health Insurance Assistance Program and ask for free Medicare counseling.

Gov. Justice, Department of Education issue updated guidance on school closures in West Virginia

Beth Sturges — Sat, 14 Mar 2020 22:15:00 +0000

CHARLESTON, WV – Gov. Jim Justice and the West Virginia Department of Education announced today that they have updated the statewide school closure plan, originally announced Friday, March 13, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

OVERVIEW:

All schools will remain closed to students through at least Friday, March 27.
Essential staff, as determined by each county board of education, will report Monday, March 16 through Wednesday, March 18 to develop continuity plans for students.
All teachers, staff, and school service personnel will report Thursday, March 19 and Friday, March 20.
County boards of education will determine staff requirements for Monday, March 23 and beyond.

“At the heart of everything we are doing right now is the protection of our children, making sure our schools are safe for our teachers and staff, and making every effort to protect all of the people of West Virginia,” Gov. Justice said. “I have been and will remain in constant contact with Superintendent Burch, and we both have heard the concerns of our teachers and school service personnel. We want to make sure all their concerns are taken into consideration as we develop our plans.”

All schools will remain closed to students through at least March 27, 2020. No return date for students has been set at this time. Gov. Justice, State Superintendent of Schools W. Clayton Burch, and other education leaders will continue to monitor COVID-19 developments throughout this two-week period, with the goal of getting students back to class as soon as safely possible.

Only essential staff will report on Monday, March 16 through Wednesday, March 18, and county superintendents will determine who these employees are in their counties. During this time, the county superintendents will work with local boards of education, leadership teams, and essential staff to devise a continuity plan that outlines how to best meet the needs of students and the community during this extended closure.

All child nutrition programs will be minimally affected by this statewide school closure. Essential personnel including transportation staff, custodial staff, and food service staff are necessary during this time to ensure child nutrition efforts are implemented effectively for the over 200,000 students who rely on school meals for their daily nutrition. County boards of education may use school buses to transport meals to students throughout the duration of the closure.

“I want to commend all our school service personnel and school leadership for their commitment to our students and for making sure school meals are available to kids who truly need them,” Gov. Justice said. “At the end of the day, these are tough decisions being made as the result of a tough situation. But I truly believe, in my heart, that these are the things we need to do to keep all West Virginians as safe as possible.”

All remaining teachers and staff will return to work on Thursday, March 19 and Friday, March 20 to make sure plans are properly implemented so student needs, educator well-being, and the continuity of instruction are properly addressed.

County boards of education will determine staff requirements for Monday, March 23 and beyond. The county leadership team may choose to establish flexible work options including adjusted schedules and remote work.

“Every effort will be made so that the final school day will be the original date scheduled by the county, so there will be minimal disruption to summer vacations for our students and their families,” Gov. Justice said. “As we work through these troubled times we will do everything we can to not disrupt our lives any more than necessary. That also means that our kids will still be learning through a multitude of ways such as online classes or any and every concept our educators can come up with during this closure.”

Beyond online instruction, county leadership teams have an array of options to ensure the delivery of instruction including distance learning, telecommunication, electronic communication, traditional instructional packets, and more.

“Governor Justice, with his experience as a teacher and a coach, has an incredible grasp on this situation and he is showing incredible leadership for our students, teachers, staff, and really all people across West Virginia,” Superintendent Burch said. “It’s amazing to watch his calm, intellectual approach to this tremendous problem.

“Educators have always risen to the occasion to meet the needs of our students and I am fully confident they will step up in a big way to help us solve this challenge as well,” Superintendent Burch continued. “At the same time, we understand the need for educators to have flexibility so that they can best meet the needs of our students while also addressing the health and well-being of their own families. Even though this is uncharted territory, we will also be flexible in putting measures in place to support our children, families, educators, and staff.”

More information on the Department of Education’s plans to supplement student learning and nutrition will be available at wvde.us/COVID19.

The West Virginia National Guard and the West Virginia Department of Agriculture are also prepared to step in and support counties in offering adequate student support.

For more information about COVID-19 prevention and more, you can call the State’s toll-free hotline at 1-800-887-4304 or visit Coronavirus.wv.gov.