U.S. Representative Morgan Griffith (R-VA), who serves as the Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, recently visited Clinch Valley Medical Center in Richlands, Virginia. During his visit, he participated in a roundtable discussion with hospital leadership and staff to address rural health care issues.
“Clinch Valley Medical Center is an important health care provider for the area,” stated Representative Griffith. “I visited Clinch Valley Medical Center to gain more knowledge of their needs and challenges. As the new chairman of the Health Subcommittee, I am committed to working with Congressional and industry partners to advance policies that positively impact the health outcomes of Americans, particularly those in rural communities.”
Peter Mulkey, President and CEO of Clinch Valley Health, expressed gratitude for Griffith’s visit. “Clinch Valley Health was honored to have Congressman Morgan Griffith visit with us today,” he said. “We had the opportunity to discuss the challenges of rural healthcare now and in the future and how we can work together with him in his new role as Chairperson of the Health subcommittee on Energy and Commerce. I believe we both have the interest of the communities we serve in ensuring we are able to continue to provide top quality care to those that call our region home.”
This July, Representative Griffith was appointed Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health. In a recent Rules Committee hearing, he pledged to collaborate with Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie to evaluate rural hospitals’ status and explore ways to improve health care access for rural communities.
Clinch Valley Medical Center operates under Lifepoint Health. Other hospital systems serving Virginia’s Ninth District include Centra Health, Carilion Clinic, HCA Healthcare, Ballad Health, and Sovah Health.
