HOUSE OF DELEGATES

WEST VIRGIN IA LEGISLATURE

BUILDING 1, ROOM M-21 2
1900 KANAWHABLVD., EAST
CHARLESTON , WV 25305-0470
PHONE (304) 340-3200

January 6, 2023

The Honorable James C. Justice

Governor
State of West Virginia
· 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East
Charleston, West Virginia 25301

Dear Governor Justice,

I hope this finds you well. As you know, Jim Kaufinan, President and CEO of the West
Virginia Hospitals Association, recently announced that Wheeling Hospital will no longer accept
West Virginia Public Employees Insurance (PEIA) effective July 1, 2023. As you are clearly
aware, PEIA is the largest health insurance provider in om state. Additionally, WVU Medicine's
Wheeling Hospital is an integral trauma hospital servicing the northern panhandle of om state. In
fact, it is the only Level m trauma hospital located in the northern panhandle.
It is clear 1hat the issues outlined in this letter need resolved immediately. My constituents,
and 1he residents of the entire northern panhandle, are being severely harmed by this decision as
an ex1ra0rdinarily high percentage of my constituents rely on PEIA and WVU Medicine for their
hea11hcare needs. The taxpayers of West Virginia are getting the short end of the stick because
two state-funded entities are at odds with each other.
Governor Justice, at the end of the day, no matter how complex the are, om mutual
constituents are losing substantial access to healthcare. Quite simply, this is government at its
worst and my constitueots deserve better. These issues need addressed immediately. Accordingly,
I am requesting that yom office immediately coordinate and participate in a meeting involving a11
interested parties, and myself to address and resolve these very important issues. I look forward
to working with everyone as we resolve these issues as soon as possible.

~ly, {)JL
Del. Charlie Reynolds, 6th District
Vice-Chair of the House Committee on Workforce Development