Commissioners Vote to Help Cover Raleigh Testing Costs

The Raleigh County Commission has voted to cover some of the testing costs for Raleigh Heart Clinic patients possibly exposed to hepatitis. Hundreds of people have been flocking to the Beckley-Raleigh County Health Department for testing after officials announced earlier this spring that 16 people have tested positive for hepatitis B or C in connection with cardiac stress tests conducted at the heart clinic. Raleigh County commissioners on Tuesday approved more than $8,600 to the health department to help cover the costs. The clinic has been billed for reimbursement. The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources will pay for lab work. Officials have urged more than 2,300 patients of the heart clinic to be tested for hepatitis B and C as well as HIV.