The West Virginia Institute for Health Policy Research is a public/private initiative of the Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center at West Virginia University, the University System (now the Higher Education Policy Board), and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation.

Begun in the fall of 1999, the Institute's "without walls" model strives to bring together the common interests of researchers, community members, the provider communities, government agencies, educational institutions, and policy makers, using their talents and resources to focus on our citizens health care needs that warrant their collaborative efforts.

To build partnerships, the Institute's first undertaking was a meeting with the State's leadership in public and private healthcare programs and institutions. This was followed by a second meeting, supported by the Milbank Memorial Fund, to bring Institute directors, legislators, and agency officials from other states to discuss the value that linking with state policy centers can bring to decision-makers about healthcare services and resources.

This meeting resulted in the Legislative briefings that were being held for the West Virginia Legislature on February 16 and 19, 2001, on healthcare issues that were the focus of the 2000 Interim Committee agenda.