Today, the House Democratic Caucus delivered “Dear Colleague” letters to every member of the House of Delegates containing new data from the Commonwealth Institute that breaks down how many Virginians in each House of Delegates District would benefit from the acceptance of over $1 billion of Medicaid expansion funds from the Federal Government. The letter also points each delegate to data from the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance showing the impact of the Commonwealth’s current Medicaid system in each district.- Last year, Medicaid spent approximately $6.7 billion to provide medical services to approximately 1.25 million Virginians
- 708,646 of Medicaid recipients in Virginia in 2014 are children
- According to the Commonwealth Institute, it is estimated that 320,830 additional Virginians would have access to quality, affordable healthcare if Virginia were to accept federal monies to expand Medicaid pursuant to the Affordable Care Act.
- According to the Commonwealth Institute, it is estimated that 194,120 additional Virginians in delegate seats currently occupied by Republican delegates would have access to quality, affordable healthcare if Virginia were to accept federal monies to expand Medicaid pursuant to the Affordable Care Act.
“Too many families in the Commonwealth do not have access to quality affordable healthcare — something Virginians both deserve and desire,” said Democratic Leader David Toscano (D-57). “By closing the healthcare gap, we can continue to build a new Virginia economy that is home to healthy Virginians.”
“No one should ever be denied access to quality healthcare, based on their economic status alone. Yet, this is the problem so many families face in the Commonwealth today. We must fix this,” said Caucus Chair Scott Surovell (D-44). “We hope with this startling data showing just how many of their constituents would benefit from expanding access to healthcare, our House of Delegates colleagues on both sides of the aisle will come together to close the healthcare gap.”
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