The West Virginia Department of
Health and Human Resources (DHHR) will receive $1.8 million in federal funding
from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to help coal miners
and others living with Black Lung disease.
The funds will help support nine
community health centers across the state which sponsor 20 Black Lung clinics
that provide direct services to assist coal miners who have respiratory and
pulmonary conditions as a result of working in coal mines.
“There are currently about 8,000
patients receiving health services through the West Virginia Black Lung
Program,” said Dr. Rahul Gupta, State Health Officer and Commissioner of DHHR’s
Bureau for Public Health. “The Black
Lung Program is critical, as it provides essential health services to help West
Virginia coal miners get the care they need.
The aim is to expand services to as many of our coal miners and others
who are impacted by this very serious disease.”
Black Lung clinics provide
direct services that include outreach and education, primary care, patient and
family education and counseling, patient care and coordination and pulmonary
rehabilitation to coal miners and their families regardless of their ability to
pay.
Details have not been released
by HHS as to when these clinics will have the federal funds in-hand.
More
information about the Black Lung Program is online at dhhr.wv.gov/dpc.