EMS vet says ‘quality of life’ issues need to be fixed

December 20, 2022

BY MIKE NOLTING Emergency Medical Service workers need more mental health support as the ranks shrink and fewer trained professionals are taking more calls, according to a EMS veteran. Bridgeport Director of Emergency Management Tim Curry said after years of the “suck it up and deal with it” culture changes need to be made for the next generation of EMS workers. Curry wrote a piece titled, Suck it up Culture is Killing First Responders, where he reflects on his own struggle and those of his peers. “The public has a perception that public servants are tougher than ...

Viatris shareholders approve executive pay, reject proposal to unseat Robert Coury as executive chair

December 13, 2022

MORGANTOWN — Viatris shareholders gave their approval to the pay structures for five executive officers during their recent annual meeting. Shareholders also approved reelection of four board members and rejected a proposal regarding an independent board chair — in a somewhat close ...

Gov. Justice: DHHR Secretary Bill Crouch to retire at year’s end; WVU’s Jeff Coben named as interim

December 12, 2022

MORGANTOWN — Gov. Jim Justice announced on Monday morning that Department of Health and Human Resources Secretary Bill Crouch will retire effective Dec. 31. Justice made the virtual announcement from his Capitol office, flanked by COVID-19 Czar Clay Marsh, Joint Interagency Task Force ...

Campaign aims to help low-income W.Va. children access health insurance

December 9, 2022

BY CARRIE HODOUSEK A new outreach campaign in West Virginia aims to help low-income families obtain and maintain health insurance coverage for their children. The campaign, Connecting Kids to Coverage West Virginia, launched this week at CAMC’s Women and Children’s Hospital in Charleston. It’s a $1.48 million three-year campaign funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services campaign and led by Think Kids Inc. to encourage eligible kids to enroll in Medicaid and CHIP. “Most families were used to enrolling every year in the program. Now they haven’t had ...

Justice discusses belated revelation of proclamation ending state COVID emergency effective Jan. 1

November 30, 2022

MORGANTOWN — Gov. Jim Justice issued a proclamation to end the pandemic state of emergency back on Nov. 12, but never announced it, so the public didn't know until a former reporter tweeted about it Tuesday night and the word spread. The reasoning for the proclamation and its remaining ...

AG Morrisey provides progress report on Medicaid Fraud Control Unit transferred to his office in 2019

November 29, 2022

MORGANTOWN — Attorney General Patrick Morrisey offered a first look at the work of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit that was transferred to his office in 2019. During a virtual press conference staged from the Eastern Panhandle, he reviewed how the numbers for investigations, case ...