CHARLESTON — Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced a $500,000 award Tuesday to CHANGE Inc. through West Virginia’s Rural Health Transformation Program to improve health care delivery and chronic disease management in Brooke and Hancock counties. The award is the first issued through the program’s Provider Productivity Support Fund, which is designed to reduce administrative burdens and improve efficiency for health care providers.
“We want our doctors and healthcare professionals focused on patients, not paperwork,” Morrisey said, according to a statement released from the governor’s office. “This investment will give providers better tools to manage chronic conditions, stay connected with patients, and spend more time delivering care.”
CHANGE Inc. plans to use the funding for a 24/7 artificial intelligence-powered patient contact center, AI-assisted clinical documentation and expanded chronic care management and remote patient monitoring services for patients with conditions including diabetes and hypertension.
The project will expand CHANGE Inc.’s chronic care management services from 41 to at least 90 patients while providing additional tools to help providers monitor patients between office visits. The organization, which has operated in West Virginia for more than 40 years as a federally qualified health center and Community Action Agency, works with more than 25 community organizations.
Health Secretary Dr. Arvin Singh said the investment will help providers coordinate care and manage chronic conditions, while CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said the federal program supports locally driven efforts to strengthen rural health systems.
