Richard G. “Rick” Simon
CEO, Community Care of West Virginia
JEAN HARDIMAN
Rick Simon’s relentless optimism has
served him well. Whether it’s overcoming
budget issues or wresting health care
tactics from old habits to new, more effi-
cient methods, he’s up for the challenge.
The successful growth of Community
Care of West Virginia (CCWV) is a testa-
ment to his unwavering commitment to
positive change.
Simon joined CCWV 26 years ago
after an administrative career in higher
education. During his tenure at CCWV,
it has grown from a single health care
center in Upshur County to multiple cen-
ters covering nine counties throughout
North Central West Virginia.
“At the time, I had no idea we could
have such a profound impact on central
West Virginia,” he says. “What started as a
small facility focusing on primary care has
now expanded into additional treatment
options for those in our communities.”
In 1984, CCWV became a federally
qualified health center (FQHC). This
gave the health care system a reimburse-
ment designation that allows it to provide
necessary medical services to those who
cannot pay. Simon sees the importance
in this designation in the communities
CCWV serves.
“In our communities, West Virginians
work hard to support their families, and
this kind of health care service is essential
to the long-term well-being of those we
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Photo by Orion Strategies.
serve,” he says. “CCWV takes medical
treatment and FQHC requirements to
heart and has sought out additional
opportunities to serve our community.”
Those additional opportunities include
school-based health centers, which have
expanded from four locations to 53 over
the past six years; a pain management
program; an addiction and recovery pro-
gram; a partnership with Mountaineer
Food Bank’s Together We Grow events;
and the implementation of the FARMacy
program.
“Seeing the positive impact CCWV has
on the communities where we live and
work has been nothing short of amaz-
ing,” says Simon. “I consider myself truly
fortunate to have had the opportunity to
watch our employees achieve professional
success and even more fortunate to see the
difference we have made in the Mountain
State. The people of West Virginia deserve
the best health care we can provide. That
is our goal, that is our mission, and providing
that service is what keeps us going.”
Backed by an outstanding senior leader
ship team, Simon continues to guide the
organization forward despite new chal-
lenges. The biggest challenge CCWV
faces now is the transition of the financial
reimbursement system from a fee-for-
service format, where health care providers
are paid simply to treat individual care
needs, to a system that focuses on an