Black Lung Clinics Program
The West Virginia Black Lung Clinics Program was established under the federal
Black Lung Benefits Reform Act of 1977 and is funded with State and Federal
monies. The initial mission of the WVBLCP was to provide services which would
improve the functional status and quality of life for coal miners afflicted
with black lung disease. The program has been expanded, nationally, to include
the coal miners' families, other occupational lung disease victims, and anyone
with a respiratory disease.
Cooperative Agreement for Primary Health Care
The Cooperative Agreement for Primary Health Care is a federal enabling grant
agreement between the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health, the West Virginia
Primary Care Association and the U.S. Public Health Service, for the purpose of
planning, development, and implementation of primary health care services.
Each state has a designated lead agency to advocate and recommend strategies
for increasing access to health care and decreasing health disparities for all
persons regardless of the ability to pay for services. The Division of
Primary Care, as the designated lead for primary health care in West
Virginia, works to ensure that identified high need
areas/communities/populations are served by a primary health care center.
West Virginia is considered a very rural state that has a high rate of chronic
diseases affecting the overall health of the residents. Access to a system of
care at the community level is critical to the improvement of residents' health
status.
In addition to the work performed in the State, the Cooperative Agreement
provides a means to work with federal agencies to address funding issues,
health coverage for uninsured and underinsured families, and preventive health
care education.
The Cooperative Agreement grant funding goal is to ensure quality, affordable
primary health care for all persons.
Public Health Emergency/Threat Preparedness Grant
Initiated in 2002, the National Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness Program
(NBHPP) helps states, territories, and municipalities to develop and implement
biological and other emergency preparedness plans focused on hospitals. The
BHHPP will also allow state and regional planning among local hospitals,
emergency medical services systems, community health centers, poison control
centers, and other health care facilities to improve their preparedness plans
to combat a terrorist attack. The funds are for equipment, training, and
coordination of services for response to biological, chemical, explosive,
radiological, other terrorist attacks, and/or any emergency situation involving
large scale casualities.
SEARCH Program
The Student/Resident Experiences and Rotation in Community Health Grant Program
(SEARCH) is a federal grant sponsored by the National Health Corps.
By enrolling in this federally funded program, health profession students
(medical studies, primary care residents, dentists, dental hygienists, clinical
psychologists, social workers, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants)
may apply for a daily stipend to live and provide health care services in a
rural primary care setting. Currently, West Virginia is one of only 22 states
and the U.S. territories which offer the SEARCH program, extending a unique,
hands-on primary care training experience working with people in rural and
urban areas.
By providing funding for this program, the Division of Primary Care hopes to
increase access to health care, and reduce the number of health disparities
existing in West Virginia communities.
Uncompensated Care and Equipment/Repairs and Alterations Grant
This funding grant is a Federal grant. It is provided to eligible primary care
organizations, free clinics, and specialty clinics. This grant enables these
non-profit, community-based clinics to provide services to those who cannot pay
for their health care and do not qualify for any other program, such as
Medicare or Medicaid. This grant also provides funds for equipment used in
the clinics, and for capital costs, defined as repairs and alterations to
the current facility.
West Virginia School-Based Health Center Initiative
Begun in 1994 as a pilot project of the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health
and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, this initiative provides the
funding for easily accessible and cost-effective health care services for
school-age children on their own school campus.
