One-third of West Virginians may soon have a harder time getting health care after lawmakers declined to fully fund Medicaid

One-third of West Virginians may soon have a harder time getting health care after lawmakers declined to fully fund Medicaid 
Mountain State Spotlight, by Erin Beck; 4/18/24
Across West Virginia, it’s already hard for many people to access health care. And unless state lawmakers change the budget they passed last month, it’s about to get even more difficult, especially for people who live in the most rural areas and those considered lower income. Starting in July, at the start of the next fiscal year, West Virginia officials will be forced to dramatically cut the state’s Medicaid budget. Roughly one-third of the state’s population relies on the government health insurance program. ... [Lawmakers] gave the program about $150 million less than was needed. ... [Facing] funding problems, state health officials could cut services such as hospice care, ...