Medicaid Matters: A Community Summit on Healthcare
MEDIA ADVISORY
September 12, 2024
Contact: Lynette Maselli
[email protected]
304-415-8099
Medicaid Matters: A Community Summit on Healthcare
West Virginians for Affordable Health Care (WVAHC) is updating its annual Medicaid Summit to closer serve its Mission – to bring a consumer voice to public policy so that every West Virginian has quality, affordable health care and the opportunity to lead an informed, healthy, and productive life.
(CHARLESTON, WV) —West Virginians for Affordable Health Care is pleased to announce it will be hosting its annual Medicaid Summit next month.
Medicaid Matters: A Community Summit on Healthcare will kick off its morning session providing free enrollment assistance to the public, as well as answering questions and/or providing guidance to individuals who may have lost coverage, or just need help navigating the system.
The afternoon session will consist of policy conversations with advocates and health care professionals.
WHO:
- Rich Sutphin, West Virginia Rural Health Association
- Gina Sharps, West Virginia Oral Health Coalition
- Leah Cook, Recovery Point
- Jeremy Smith, West Virginia Navigators
- Ellen Allen, West Virginians for Affordable Healthcare
WHAT: Press Conference: The Importance of Medicaid and why Medicaid Matters
WHEN: Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at 1:00 PM
WHERE:
Kanawha County Public Library
123 Capitol Street
Third Floor
Charleston, WV 25301
WHY: Medicaid is the state’s largest health insurance program. At a projected federal/state budget of more than about $5.2 billion, Medicaid supports not only West Virginia residents but also the health care infrastructure through more than $4 billion in federal matching dollars.
Today, 512,000 West Virginia residents are on Medicaid. 87,000 West Virginia residents enrolled in Medicare are also covered by Medicaid. Over 50% of West Virginia residents live in rural areas; rural residents are much more likely to depend upon Medicaid than those living in urban areas.
WVAHC supports a strong, accountable, and fully funded Medicaid program.
###