Emily Schabacker

There are more people in Southwest Virginia with chronic kidney disease than in other region in the Commonwealth, said Dr. David Salzberg, who will be leading the new program. This would be the only transplant service available in the western part of the state.

County officials said Tuesday that the hospital would not reopen. But Foresight Health, which bought the property two years ago, insists that “nothing is off the table.”

County officials say no reason was given for the change in plans. But Foresight Health, which purchased the shuttered hospital in 2022, had pushed back its reopening date several times.

The Blacksburg-based Secular Society has given a total of $3 million over three years to buy medical debt. This year’s funding forgave more than $12.1 million of debt.

Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare’s new space will support adult and youth services.

Provider shortages are to blame for the decision, which is effective April 1, according to a hospital spokesperson.

So far, 390,000 Virginians have enrolled for health insurance through the new marketplace. Some, like Susan Sypolt of Blacksburg, have found the process challenging.

The governor’s proposed budget includes $500 million for behavioral health as the state’s Right Help, Right Now initiative enters its second year.

JLARC said private hospitals across the state could do more to alleviate patient loads at state-run facilities.