CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Governor Patrick Morrisey today announced a $500,000 Rural Health Transformation Program award to Potomac Highlands Guild to strengthen mental health and addiction recovery services in eastern West Virginia. The funding will provide new technology to help healthcare providers identify patients who need additional support, reduce paperwork, and spend more time caring for those struggling with mental health challenges and addiction.
“Getting more West Virginians healthy and back into the workforce starts with making sure people have access to the care and support they need,” said Governor Morrisey. “This investment will give our behavioral health providers better tools to help people overcome addiction, improve their mental health, and get their lives back on track. That’s good for our families, our communities, and the future of West Virginia.”
The project will serve residents in Berkeley, Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Mineral, Morgan, and Pendleton counties. New tools will help care teams:
●Spot signs that someone may need support before a crisis occurs
●Stay connected with people working through addiction recovery
●Reduce time spent on documentation and administrative tasks
●Expand the reach of behavioral health services in rural communities
The project combines wearable monitoring technology, mobile tools, and artificial intelligence to expand clinician capacity and maintain regular connections with patients between appointments, helping individuals stay engaged in treatment, strengthen recovery support networks, and improve long-term outcomes while enabling providers to focus more of their time on direct care.
“Potomac Highlands Guild has served these communities for more than 40 years,” Dr. Arvin Singh, Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Health, said. “This investment gives local providers new tools to reach people earlier, reduce staff burnout, and help more West Virginians succeed in recovery.”
“The Rural Health Transformation Program is built on the idea that the best solutions for rural communities come from the people who know them best,” said Alina Czekai, Director of CMS’ Office of Rural Health Transformation. “We’re proud to partner with states as they invest in practical, locally driven strategies that expand access to care and create lasting improvements for the people they serve.”
For people living with addiction, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other behavioral health challenges, staying connected to care can be critical to long-term recovery and wellness. By combining technology with local clinical and peer support teams, this project will help more West Virginians stay engaged in treatment and recovery, strengthening long-term wellness while improving access to care close to home.
Additional Smart Care Catalyst Provider Productivity Support Fund awards will be announced as implementation continues across the state.
This press release is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of the financial assistance award totaling $199,476,098.72 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor endorsement by, CMS/HHS or the U.S. Government.
