December 10, 2021

Manchin, HHS Secretary Becerra Visit Marion Neighborhood Hospital, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute

To view photos of Senator Manchin and Secretary Becerra’s visit, click here

Morgantown, WV – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Marion Neighborhood Hospital and visited the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute to highlight the importance of rural healthcare and addressing the drug epidemic.

“I was honored to welcome my friend HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra to West Virginia to showcase the importance of investing in rural healthcare and combatting the drug epidemic that continues to ravage our state,” said Senator Manchin. “We participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Marion Neighborhood Hospital, the first of its kind in the state that will provide quality care to Marion County residents. West Virginia has lost three full service hospitals last year, and filling those gaps in care is crucial to the wellbeing of our state. We also visited the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute in Morgantown which leads innovation in behavioral health and substance use disorder treatments. Their efforts are crucial to addressing the drug epidemic that has killed more than 100,000 Americans and more than 1,600 West Virginians in the last year. I was pleased to show Secretary Becerra our wonderful state, and I look forward to working with him to address the issues facing West Virginia.”

“Senator Manchin’s tireless advocacy for the people of West Virginia and his partnership with the Biden-Harris Administration has made our country stronger,” Secretary Becerra said. “Together, we are expanding rural health access, helping those who struggle with substance use, and strengthening our medical supply chain. I look forward to continued collaboration with Senator Manchin as we implement the American Rescue Plan and build back better.” 

“The mountains and unique topography that make our state so beautiful also present a unique challenge in emergency situations where every second counts. That's why small format hospitals, like Mon Health Marion Neighborhood Hospital, will revolutionize the way healthcare is delivered in the state of West Virginia. We are so thankful that Marion County's own, Senator Joe Manchin, and HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra visited our hospital today, and look forward to working with them both as we develop this model into a sustainable future for all West Virginians. Mon Health Marion Neighborhood Hospital is West Virginia's first small format hospital, but it will certainly not be its last,” said Jonathan Board, Director of External Affairs and Public Policy, Mon Health System.

“Having surpassed 100,000 overdose deaths last year, it's clear that our country's addiction epidemic is only getting worse and not going away. The WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (RNI) is leveraging the latest technological innovations to advance the science and treatment of addiction.  We are honored to host Secretary Becerra and Senator Manchin today, and are grateful for their ongoing support which enables us to develop new solutions and save lives,” said Ali Rezai, MD, Executive Chair, WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute.

Senator Manchin successfully fought to include $8.5 billion in the American Rescue Plan to specifically support rural healthcare providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. 440 West Virginia rural providers have received nearly $124 million, and more funding is coming.

Senator Manchin’s efforts to combat the drug epidemic can be found here.

To view photos of Senator Manchin and Secretary Becerra’s visits, click here.