West Virginia is exploring outside management of William R. Sharpe, Jr. Hospital in Weston and Mildred Mitchell-Bateman Hospital in Huntington, according to an Oct. 12 report by WV MetroNews. The Department of Health Facilities has released a request for proposals from organizations interested in operating the two state-run psychiatric hospitals.
State officials said neither hospital would be sold. The properties would remain entirely state-owned, while a selected partner would manage daily operations and provide expertise aimed at improving patient care and recovery.
What the state is seeking
The department wants proposals from organizations with experience operating inpatient civil and forensic psychiatric facilities. A partner would oversee daily hospital functions and help develop a broader range of behavioral health services focused on treatment and recovery.
Interested organizations have until late this year to submit proposals, MetroNews reported. The report did not give an exact deadline or identify a selected operator.
“Our responsibility is to provide the best possible care for the West Virginians who depend on these facilities,” Department of Health Facilities Cabinet Secretary Michael Caruso said in a state release quoted by MetroNews. He said partnerships with experienced providers could strengthen operations and improve patient outcomes.
Costs and maintenance concerns
MetroNews reported that Sharpe’s operating expenses have exceeded $128 million per fiscal year, with contract and agency staffing accounting for a substantial share of spending. At the 75-year-old Mildred Mitchell-Bateman facility, officials have described badly deteriorating water and heating pipes and requested millions of dollars for deferred maintenance.
The proposal follows other sales and restructuring of state-run care and nursing facilities under the Morrisey administration. MetroNews reported that lawmakers have raised concerns about rising costs and transparency.