Sen. Emmett Hanger honored by doctors’ group

State Sen. Emmett Hanger (R-Augusta County) has been named Virginia Academy of Family Physicians’ 2014 Legislator of the Year.

VAFP held their annual meeting last month at the Homestead in Hot Springs and recognized Senator Hanger for his leadership and support of the practice of family medicine. Citing his years of work and experience, VAFP event organizers say “Senator Hanger has proven himself to be a true friend to the VAFP and to the practice of family medicine. As a budget conferee, Senator Hanger has worked year after year to defend provider reimbursement. As a member of the Health policy committee, Senator Hanger has fought back numerous efforts to infringe upon physician scope of practice and worked to defeat government intrusion into the physician-patient relationship.”

Most recently, Senator Hanger has served as Chairman of the Medicaid Innovation and Reform Commission. Sean Reed, M.D., President, Virginia Academy of Family Physicians says, “Through Senator Hanger’s leadership, Virginia has been able to implement crucial reforms to ensure the sustainability and efficiency of the Medicaid program. At great political cost, Senator Hanger also has been a vocal advocate for seeking the means to extend health insurance coverage to all Virginians.  In doing so, he has repeatedly cited the need to ensure every Virginian has access to a family physician.”

Hanger represents the 24^th District that encompasses a large part of the Shenandoah Valley and part of Central Virginia. His district stretches from parts of Culpeper County, all of Madison County, parts of Rockingham County and all of Augusta and Greene Counties. The district also includes the Cities of Staunton and Waynesboro.