Programs

The Office of Health Affairs is built on academic expertise, affording our staff the insight and acumen to execute projects at the highest level.

Data Analytics and Decision Support (DADS)

DADS is a 2-year contract through 2021 with Office of Health Affairs staff embedded in the WV DHHR Bureau for Medical Services (BMS). BMS is responsible for the provision of the state’s Medicaid program and provides insurance benefits for nearly one third of the state—with an overarching goal to improve the delivery of healthcare services while containing spending.

Impact

Strengthens WV DHHR capability throughout all levels of the agency, in turn improving the provision of services to WV residents in need.

Program Team

Principle Investigator
Dr. Nathan Pauly Health Data Analyst
Marco Schaaf, MPH, MBA Health Data Analyst

1115 SUD Medicaid Waiver Evaluation

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) granted the WV DHHR Bureau for Medical Services (BMS) a 1115 Waiver for the state’s Medicaid program. To ensure compliance with CMS federal guidelines, The Office of Health Affairs is developing an evaluation plan that will provide both real-time and long-term feedback for the project and measure processes and outcomes.

Impact

A robust external evaluation of Medicaid Waiver implementation allows WV DHHR to identify strengths and weaknesses in substance-use disorder services.

Program Team

Principle Investigator
Dr. Lindsay Allen Health Economist
Program Manager
Johnathan Herczyk
Bureau for Medical Services

Children's In-Home and Community-Based Services Improvement Project

In concert with the WV DHHR Bureau for Behavioral Health (BBH), this project will develop an evaluation approach and logic models to align with components of the Department of Justice’s Children's In-Home and Community-Based Services Improvement Project. This project will expand and improve in-home and community-based mental health services to better meet children’s needs.

Impact

Ensure improved mental-health service outcomes for children as well as reduced costs for the state.

Program Team

Principle Investigator
Dr. Summer DeBastiani
Co-Principle Investigator
Dr. Erik Carlton
Program Manager
Ben Nemeth
Bureau for Behavioral Health

Data to Action

This project is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the Overdose Data to Action grant. The Office of Health Affairs will implement and evaluate WV DHHR programs for emergency departments, providing screening, treatment, and referral strategies for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) in five high-risk northern West Virginia counties.

Impact

Reduce overdose deaths and improve opportunities for people with substance abuse disorder (SUD), particularly OUD, to achieve long-term recovery in the communities served by the partnering hospitals and associated regional comprehensive behavioral health centers (CBHC).

Program Team

Principle Investigator
Herb Linn, MS Program Director for Communication and Collaboration
Project Coordinator
Tonya Taylor
Research Coordinator
Emily Sarkees
About CDC Grants