WEST VIRGINIA (WCHS) — Starting next year, work requirements will be part of Medicaid qualifications for more than 100,000 recipients in West Virginia.

It’s a move Gov. Patrick Morrisey has applauded, noting that the state has the lowest workforce participation rate in the country at around 54.3%, just below the national average of 62%.

“There will be more people under work requirements soon,” Morrisey said in a press conference Monday. “That’s good. Work is good. Work is noble. We want people to have purpose in their lives. That’s what we’re getting toward.”

The rule was released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and it requires people who are ages 19-64 that are part of Medicaid expansion to meet an 80 hours per month work requirement. This can be done through employment, education, work programs or community service.

“These stricter requirements are going to make it more difficult for people to qualify for medical frailty,” West Virginia Citizen Action Group organizing manager Mindy Holcomb said. “We could have people who have serious conditions that should prevent them from working and being forced to go out into the work forced to work. That’s dangerous.”

With only seven months until this takes effect, people pushing back said the ruling is not clear and it overlooks a large majority of recipients.

“Are these people taking care of loved ones who are sick or ill? We have an aging population and we have a sick population and I don’t think any of that has been taken into account and to the fact that we also have grandparents who are caring for grandchildren,” Holcomb said.

Holcomb said this is a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist and with the tight deadline, she said many recipients may lose their coverage without even knowing.

“I’m going to be very frank with you – it could be deadly,” she said. “If you make one mistake on that form you can lose your healthcare and that’s a done deal. It is a false narrative that this is going to solve any Medicaid issues.”

Holcomb added that she wants to see lawmakers put more work and time into this rule to ensure nobody slips through the cracks.

“People aren’t sitting at home collecting checks,” she said. “Nobody gets a check from Medicaid. This is all reimbursement to providers. This is healthcare.”

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A lengthy state Community and Technical College Council meeting Thursday included the approval of three new school presidents across the state.

The council unanimously approved Dr. Chris Treadway as the fourth president of BridgeValley Community and Technical College. Treadway had been serving as vice chancellor with the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission.

Treadway, a Kanawha County native, was chosen by the BridgeValley Board of Governors last week following an interview process that included eleven remote candidate interviews, and three finalists visiting campus for in-person interviews.

Treadway was appointed to be BridgeValley president on a one-year contract. He’ll begin in the role July 1 and serve through June 30, 2027. His base salary was set for $192,500 annually, in addition to some benefits.

BridgeValley Community and Technical College is based in South Charleston that has a second location in Montgomery.

The council approved Dr. Michael Waide as the full-time president of Pierpont Community and Technical College as well. A former provost at the school, Waide had been serving as interim president since March 2025 following the resignation of Dr. Milan Howard. Pierpont elected to remove the interim tag from Waide’s title this March.

Waide was given a two-year contract, with options to extend for three additional years. Waide’s base salary will be $185,000 per year. Pierpont’s main campus location is in Fairmont.

West Virginia Northern Community College also received council approval for its new president, Andrew Lengehr. Lengehr’s base salary was set for $215,000 annually with an $8,000 deferred compensation at the conclusion of each fiscal year. Lengehr comes to WVNCC from St. Louis Community College in Missouri after 25 years there.

Lengehr is set to begin on August 17 and serve an approximately two-year term through June 30, 2028.

WVNCC has three locations: Wheeling, Weirton, and New Martinsville.

There was an added wrinkle to the WVNCC presidential appointment. The council approved an extension to outgoing president Dr. Daniel Mosser’s contract, allowing him to continue serving in the role for the time being. The move was made to smooth out the transition period until Lengehr assumes the position.

The CTC council also rubber-stamped presidential compensation contracts at four other institutions:
– Blue Ridge Community and Technical College President Dr. Peter Checkovich’s new term from July 1 of this year through June 30, 2031.
– Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College President Dr. Thomas Striplin’s six-percent contract increase, around $10,000 per year.
– Mountwest Community and Technical College President Dr. Joshua Baker’s three-year contract from July 1 of this year through June 30, 2029.
– New River Community and Technical College President Dr. Bonny Copenhaver’s five-year contract, with evaluations and renewal after each year, starting July 1, 2026.

The council approved individual school budgets for the next fiscal year during their three-and-a-half hour meeting.