$343,941 federal grant awarded to medical center

Rainelle Medical Center has been awarded $343,941 from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration to continue providing primary care services, particularly to high-need and uninsured residents.

Announcements of the grant award were made by U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins, R-W.Va., all three of whom vowed to continue fighting for funding for clinics and health centers all across the state.

“Health centers like Rainelle Medical Center ensure low-income residents have access to health and dental services,” Jenkins said. “Thanks to this funding, Rainelle Medical Center will be able to continue offering care to our communities and will help to create a healthier West Virginia.”

Jenkins’ announcement also included a statement from Kristi Atha-Rader, CEO of Rainelle Medical Center, which is a federally qualified health center.

“This funding allows us to continue providing affordable, quality medical, dental, pharmacy and behavioral health services to the citizens of Greenbrier, Fayette, Summers, Monroe and surrounding counties,” Atha-Rader said. “Without this funding, it would be difficult for us to maintain the scope of service that we provide in the many locations we have.”

In addition to Rainelle Medical Center, RMC’s locations include Rainelle Dental Clinic, Meadow Bridge Clinic, Alderson Medical Center, Maxwelton Health Center, White Sulphur Springs Health Center and various school-based health sites.

Capito and Manchin issued statements in a joint press release.

“Our community health centers provide important access to primary and preventive health care to citizens all across the Mountain State,” Manchin said. “Every West Virginian deserves access to quality health care, and ensuring our rural health care centers are well-funded is an important aspect of that.”

Capito said, “This funding will help ensure that — regardless of where they live or their economic circumstances — West Virginians will continue to access these services which will help them lead healthy, happy lives.”