Rotary Celebrates Festival of Trees, Wheeling Health Right
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WHEELING - Anne Ricci, executive director of Wheeling Health Right, says the clinic is closely watching access to health care in the Northern Panhandle amid changes to Medicaid.
Ricci was the speaker for the Wheeling Rotary meeting on Wednesday, which took place at the Pine Room at Oglebay Park amid the Festival of Trees. Money generated by the Festival of Trees this year benefits Wheeling Health Right.
"Having insurance does not always mean someone can easily get the care they need," Ricci told those present. "Transportation, work schedules, fear, finding a provider and the cost of care can all stand in the way."
Changes to Medicaid in West Virginia starting in 2027 are another part of that picture, she continued.
"There are exceptions, and the impact will vary from person-to-person," she said. "Some people may still need more help understanding their coverage and completing renewals.
"We are staying informed, and we are looking at how best to connect these patients with the right help - including resources such as West Virginia Navigator. While we cannot predict what these changes will mean to the people of the Ohio Valley, but we can prepare to help people find their way through them."
Another challenge to health care is the rising cost of operating health care clinics, according to Ricci.
This past year, the liability insurance for Wheeling Health Right increased 63%, while employee health insurance rose 20%, she reported.
"We are not waiting to see what happens next. We are getting out into the community and making connections," she said.
From March 2, Nov. 2 this year, Wheeling Health Right participated in 48 community outreach events and spoke with 3,795 individuals about the clinic and the care available to them. In addition, 118 preventative health care screenings were provided, Ricci reported.
She also acknowledged the need for hospitals and other health care providers.
"Health care does not begin and end at a hospital door, and it does not begin and end at ours, either," she said. "Our goal is to complement the care already available, fill in the gaps, and lead people to the service they need because none of us can do it alone."
Community partners, such as the Festival of Trees, also are important to Wheeling Health Right, she continued.
"We are grateful that Wheeling Health Right is the beneficiary," Ricci said. "That generosity has a purpose beyond this week. They help us to continue to provide essential health care, while we plan responsibly for our future.
"When these decorations come down, the good that comes from the Festival of Trees continues."
The Festival of Trees continues from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day through Nov. 14.