Bipartisan Virginia Politicos Recognized for Medicaid Work

Two Virginia representatives will receive recognition today from the Virginia Health Care Foundation (VHCF) for their part in pulling together members of both sides of the political aisle to pass Medicaid expansion during the 2018 General Assembly session.

Governor Ralph Northam, a Democrat from the very rural Eastern Shore, and Senator Emmett Hanger, a Republican from the rural Shenandoah Valley, are the recipients of VHCF’s “Hero in Health Care Extraordinaire” award.

The Foundation, a public/private partnership that helps uninsured Virginians and those who live in underserved communities receive medical, dental, and mental health care, noted:

Once in a great while, a leader steps forth and achieves something extraordinary. In 2018, two such leaders navigated a turbulent legislative process and succeeded in making greatly needed health coverage available to 400,000 uninsured Virginians. This special award was created for them.

From reporter Michael Martz with the Richmond Times-Dispatch:

Gov. Ralph Northam and Sen. Emmett Hanger will take a bow on Monday when they receive a joint award for their successful push this year to expand Virginia’s Medicaid program.

The Virginia Health Care Foundation will present a new award called “Hero in Health Care Extraordinaire” to Northam, a Democrat in his first year as governor, and Hanger, R-Augusta, co-chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

They succeeded in expanding Medicaid coverage to an estimated 400,000 uninsured Virginians under the Affordable Care Act after a bitter five-year political struggle in the General Assembly.

The governor and senator received a big boost from House Speaker Kirk Cox, R-Colonial Heights, and House Appropriations Chairman Chris Jones, R-Suffolk, who threw their support behind the initiative for the first time.

VHCF has helped with free clinics, community health centers, and other ways to expand both the types of care offered and the number of patients cared for each year. In addition to grants, VHCF programs help make prescription medications available to those who cannot afford them. VHCF also helps uninsured children receive medical and dental coverage.

The VHCF website lists their partnerships and programs that have been established since 1992:

• Made more than 3 million patient visits possible;
• Generated more than $2.64 billion in free medications for more than 314,714 individuals;
• Enrolled 93,000 children in state-sponsored health insurance; and
• Provided more than $12.3 million in grants to help establish or expand 72 dental safety net programs and projects.

Appreciated by many who will benefit from the expansion of medical care, Republicans who backed the bill are under attack from members of their party who battled against extending Medicaid.

Effective January 1, 2019, Medicaid will be available to eligible adult Virginians ages 19-64 who live in households earning at or below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level ($28,676 for a family of 3 in 2018).

The award will be presented Monday, September 24, at Richmond-based non-profit Daily Planet Health Services.