By Stephen Baldwin
RealWV, www.therealwv.com
In response to federal policy changes passed in the Trump administration’s “One, Big, Beautiful Bill,” local hospitals are bracing for the financial impacts and taking preemptive action to stave off closure.
Dale Witte of Vandalia Health, which runs Greenbrier Valley Medical Center, confirmed to RealWV that the hospital is reorganizing to become a “Critical Access Hospital.” They will also cease labor & delivery services to women.
“Critical Access Hospitals receive a higher level of reimbursement for services, making the hospital more sustainable for our community,” Witte explained. “This designation will bolster Vandalia Health’s efforts to grow the facility in alignment with the shift toward outpatient care in both clinic and surgery settings, while still supporting appropriate levels of inpatient and observation care.”
“Critical Access Hospitals” are defined in West Virginia state code and must include: 24-hour emergency care, be a Medicaid and Medicare provider, be located in a rural county, be more than 35 miles from the nearest hospital, and can only accept patients who expect to be released within 96 hours.
Additionally, they are limited to 25 inpatient beds. This will be a significant cut from the hospital’s current number of inpatient beds.
As to whether the switch will impact community jobs, Witte said, “The number of employees affected will be limited. While some may transfer to a different unit or office, there will be opportunities as inpatient services are adjusted and outpatient services expanded. GVMC will have numerous positions available, as will the CAMC/Vandalia Health organization. At any given time, CAMC/Vandalia Health has hundreds of open positions with opportunities for employees who may need to transition.”
Vandalia has invested more than $50 million in GVMC in recent years, and Witte says that commitment will continue. “(We) will continue to invest in expanding outpatient services, including cancer care services. Vandalia Health CAMC is building a new, 15 million outpatient facility on the GVMC campus to grow the specialty care for the region.”
‘GVMC will no longer provide OB delivery or inpatient pediatrics’
However, one important service for female patients will no longer be available. As part of the reorganization, labor and delivery will no longer occur at GVMC.
“GVMC has been recruiting OB/GYN providers and nurses for more than two years, without success,” Witte said. “As a result, GVMC has been working with its physicians to transition OB/GYN services to prenatal and GYN care, with delivery options in Beckley and Charleston. GVMC will no longer provide OB delivery services or inpatient pediatrics after April of 2026.”
In 2023, there were 338 children delivered at GVMC. For comparison, in 2005, there were 557 children delivered at GVMC. But come April 2026, that number will drop to 0.
This closure is part of a larger trend, as only 18 hospitals in the state of West Virginia operate labor and delivery services. A decade ago, there were 26.
‘Maternity care desert’
Molly McMillion is the Director of the WV Breastfeeding Institute and Special Projects Consultant for the WV Perinatal Partnership. She is a registered nurse who has worked with mothers and infants for nearly 30 years.
“West Virginia is already what is called ‘a maternity care desert,’” McMillion said. “I have seen 8 hospitals stop delivering babies, some completely closing. It used to be that local mothers could choose to deliver elsewhere, and some had to because of high-risk pregnancies. Maternal and infant mortality in the state may not improve with less facilities delivering.
“I have taught childbirth classes here in the Greenbrier Valley for mothers delivering at GVMC and any of the surrounding hospitals,” McMillion shared. “There’s always a point in the class series that expectant parents realize that they must drive 1-2 hours away when in labor, and are terrified.”
“Greenbrier Valley ceasing to deliver babies next year is a loss to the community and a harsh reality for mothers,” she continued. “In this case, the continued provision of prenatal care here makes that reality a bit easier given that mothers can still have care during their pregnancy even if they must travel elsewhere to deliver in a hospital.”
RealWV reached out to Becky Harless, VP of Vandalia Health multiple times over the past two weeks about the reorganization, and she did not return our request for comment.
Local officials were given a heads up by Harless about the planned moves on Wednesday afternoon.
Greenbrier County Commissioner Richie Holliday is hopeful that the reorganization will be beneficial in the long run, but he’s disappointed with the lack of labor and delivery services.
“It’s truly heartbreaking to hear that labor and delivery services will be closing,” Holliday said on Wednesday evening. “So many families in our area have some of their most precious memories tied to that department – moments that can never be replaced. The loss of that service will be deeply felt by our entire community.”
“Even so, it’s comforting to see CAMC GVMC’s continued investment in outpatient and specialty care. It’s clear that the hospital is committed to caring for our friends, neighbors, and families here at home,” Holliday continued. “It’s encouraging to see CAMC Greenbrier Valley Medical Center taking steps to secure the future of healthcare in our community through the Critical Access designation. Knowing that these changes will help keep our hospital strong and sustainable gives us hope for the years ahead.”
RealWV also reached out to the four state legislators who represent the area in which GVMC sits – Sen. Vince Deeds, Sen. Jack David Woodrum, Del. Jeff Campbell, & Del. Ray Canterbury. None returned our request for comment.
GVMC is the second largest employer in Greenbrier County, with some 400 employees.
