Manchin, Capito Announce $30.3 Million To Address COVID-19 Health Disparities

Charleston, WV– U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $30,370,777 to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This funding is from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act and is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Initiative to Address COVID-19 Health Disparities Among Populations at High-Risk and Underserved Communities, Including Racial and Ethnic Minority Populations and Rural Communities program.

 

“Unfortunately, we have seen great health disparities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic impacting our minority communities, as well as our rural communities. This disparity is unacceptable and is often caused by lack of access to quality healthcare. I am thankful HHS is investing in West Virginia to improve strategies for prevention, testing, contact tracing and other strategies to reduce the disparity and improve health outcomes. I will continue fighting for every West Virginian to have access to quality, affordable healthcare, especially as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Senator Manchin.

“All West Virginians deserve access to quality health services—regardless of where they live,” Senator Capito said. “When the COVID-19 pandemic hit our country, many rural communities were at a severe disadvantage when it came to accessibility to some of these services. I’m thankful that the CDC is responding by making the largest investment to date to support communities—like those in West Virginia—affected by COVID-19-related health disparities. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for all communities in West Virginia and work to eliminate disparities like this from creating disadvantages for our residents.”