West Virginia, which was ranked 47th in states in terms of overall health by the United Health Foundation, has secured $1.2 million in congressional funding to help toward addiction treatment at St. Francis Hospital in Charleston operated by Thomas Health Systems.
The money, secured through a Congressionally Directed Spending request from the state's two senators, Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin and Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, will go specifically toward improving the infrastructure and services of a medical building to be used by the hospital's addiction healing center.
"This is a critical aspect of our continued battle against the addiction crisis, and will help connect more West Virginians struggling with substance use disorder with the resources they need to continue their road towards recovery," Ms. Capito said in a Dec. 13 statement.
Thomas Health said Nov. 11 its system would become part of the Morgantown-based West Virginia University Health System.