Lawmakers look at ways to shore up state health insurance plan

West Virginia’s Public Employees Insurance Agency, which provides health coverage for more than 200,000 state employees and teachers, is facing a financial shortfall unless it receives additional funding in the next few years, reports the Mountain State Spotlight. Lawmakers say they’re prepared to act to shore up the program beyond the increased reimbursement rates, but increased permanent funding is not yet under consideration. Earlier this month, the West Virginia University Medicine Wheeling Hospital said it would stop accepting the PEIA health insurance, spurring state senators to pass a bill that would increase the amount the PEIA reimburses hospitals.