Hurdles to Health
The State of Health Care in West Virginia
OLIVIA MILLER
Access to high-quality health care is an essential element in fostering healthy and prosperous communities and families . Moreover , the capacity of a health care system can make or break the growth and development of a given state . In reality , no one wants to move to , raise a family or start a business in an area without access to quality health care .
The state of health care in West Virginia is a complex and nuanced issue riddled with challenges compounded by policy decisions and environmental and socioeconomic factors beyond the control or scope of health care professionals themselves .
In the past several years , the health care industry has faced challenges unlike any other in recent memory . Compounding the effects of the opioid epidemic throughout much of Appalachia , the COVID-19 pandemic put additional pressure on resources already stretched thin . The pandemic exposed many shortcomings and pitfalls in our health care systems across the nation , with many hospitals and clinics being brought to their knees by staffing , infrastructure and supply chain issues . The domino effect tipped off by the pandemic has yet to be fully realized and it ’ s shaking out in the health care industry in a myriad of ways .
The pandemic pushed many workers in the medical field to leave their jobs completely as a result of trauma and subsequent burnout . This heartbreaking cycle , coupled with a nationwide shortage of health care professionals , has led to an even sharper decline in access to quality medical care in rural areas , home to some of the most vulnerable populations .
“ From nurses to paramedics , people are overwhelmed and overworked ,” says Dr . Ayne Amjad , acting state health officer / commissioner for the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources ( DHHR ) Bureau for Public Health . “ Some solutions are to offer better pay and ways to move up in current roles for career advancement , as well as offering and introducing more educational opportunities at a younger age in hopes of inspiring career development .”
In West Virginia , the health care rankings are disheartening . In 2021 , West Virginia ranked 47th in health care in a report by U . S . News and World Report . The report looked at access to care , quality of care and the overall health of the population as key indicators . The same report ranks West Virginia last in public health after evaluating six metrics : mortality rate , suicide rate , smoking rate , mental health , infant mortality rate and adult obesity rate .
So , what are some of the main factors contributing to the challenges the West Virginia health care system is facing ?
Jim Kaufman , president and CEO of the West Virginia Hospital Association , explains one of the biggest challenges all health care providers face in West Virginia is the state ’ s payer mix . Payer mix refers to the percentage of revenue that comes from private insurance companies versus government insurance programs like Medicare or Medicaid . In West Virginia , 1.2 million of the 1.8 million total population are covered by government health insurance programs , including Medicare , Medicaid and the Public Employee Insurance Agency ( PEIA ). For the average West Virginia hospital , that translates to three out of every four patients who are covered by these government health insurance programs , all of which pay less than the cost of care , with Medicare paying roughly 85 % of the cost .
34
WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE