Adrienne McGibbon

6 days ago | vpm.org | Adrienne McGibbon

More than one-third of Virginia’s rural hospitals are running at a loss. More than one-third of Virginia’s rural hospitals are operating in the red, and federal threats to Medicaid funding could put many hospitals that mainly serve residents in Southwest and Southside Virginia at risk. Virginia has 28 health care facilities that fit the definition of “rural hospitals.” They serve populations that are older, with higher rates of chronic illness and poverty.

3 weeks ago | vpm.org | Adrienne McGibbon

The Virginia Department of Health has confirmed the state’s first case of measles for 2025. Now, the department is trying to determine whether anyone else may have been exposed to the highly contagious illness. A child under the age of 4 from the state’s Northwest health region — which includes the Shenandoah Valley and parts of Appalachia — was diagnosed with the disease last week, according to a statement from VDH. State health officials say the child had recently traveled internationally.

1 month ago | wamu.org | Adrienne McGibbon |Dean Mirshahi

The federal government is withdrawing up to $425 million in grant funding for several COVID-related programs operated by the Virginia Department of Health. The cuts have already led to ongoing layoffs and the early cancellation of existing contracts across the state. The decision of President Donald Trump’s administration to eliminate $11.4 billion in federal funding for COVID-related programs comes just a week after the nation marked the five-year anniversary of the pandemic’s beginning.

1 month ago | whro.org | Adrienne McGibbon |Dean Mirshahi

This story was reported and written by VPM News. This is a developing story. Please check back later for updates. The federal government is withdrawing up to $425 million in grant funding for several COVID-related programs operated by the Virginia Department of Health. The cuts have already led to ongoing layoffs and the early cancellation of existing contracts across the state.

2 months ago | vpm.org | Adrienne McGibbon

Virginia lawmakers presented a compromise budget late last week that did not include a plan to directly address possible federal funding cuts to the state’s Medicaid expansion. The General Assembly passed statewide Medicaid expansion in 2018, which provides health insurance for adults younger than 65 who earn up to 138% of the federal poverty level. That law, signed by Democratic Gov.