ICYMI: HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra Traveled to West Virginia to Highlight Biden-Harris Administration Plans to Build Back Better by Strengthening Rural and Behavioral Health, Substance Use Treatment, and More

Video of Secretary Becerra’s remarks and b-roll included.

On Friday, December 10, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra joined Senator Manchin in West Virginia to highlight Biden-Harris Administration plans to strengthen rural and behavioral health, substance use treatment, and more.

Secretary Becerra and Senator Manchin began their day at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Mon Health Marion Neighborhood Hospital in White Hall, West Virginia, a facility that will help close gaps in rural health care access as the state’s first small format hospital. Later in the day, Secretary Becerra joined a substance use and behavioral health roundtable hosted by the West Virginia University Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute. There he got to see the results of a non-invasive neuroscience treatment that helps address addiction.

Secretary Becerra thanked Senator Manchin for supporting the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and bolstering the country’s rural health network — commending his tireless advocacy for not only the people of West Virginia, but rural communities across the country. They agreed to continue to work together as the Biden-Harris Administration builds back better by strengthening rural health systems. Already the administration has invested over $7 billion in its COVID-19 response, treatment of substance use, and telehealth for rural America through the American Rescue Plan.
       
Secretary Becerra’s remarks from the ribbon-cutting ceremony and b-roll from Mon Health Neighborhood Hospital and the West Virginia University Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute can be downloaded here.