Joint Statement Supporting Expanded Health Care Coverage Access for Uninsured Virginians

April 19, 2018

Endorsed by 31 Organizations Representing Hospitals, Obstetrics, Gynecological, Emergency, Pediatric, and Podiatric Physicians, Nurses, Visiting Nurses, Nurse-Midwives, Nurse Practitioners and Nursing Leaders, Emergency Medicine, Physical Therapists, Counselors, Rural Health Care, Community-Based Providers, Community Health Centers, Free Clinics, Oral Health, Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Heart Health, Stroke Prevention, Multiple Sclerosis Care, Hemophilia Treatment, Mental Health Care, Specialized Education Facilities and Private Providers Serving Children, Behavior Analysis, and Acupuncturists

As Virginia leaders work to find a state budget compromise that includes a health care coverage access plan, 31 health care organizations active in the Commonwealth have come together to issue this statement of encouragement and support. The statement is jointly issued by the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, the Virginia Nurses Association, the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners, the Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Virginia College of Emergency Physicians, the Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine, the Virginia Section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Virginia Organization of Nurse Executives & Leaders, the Virginia Physical Therapy Association, the Virginia Counselors Association, the Virginia Association of Community-Based Providers, the Virginia Community Healthcare Association, the Virginia Health Care Foundation, the Virginia Rural Health Association, the Virginia Oral Health Coalition, the American Cancer Society – Cancer Action Network, the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation, the Virginia Hemophilia Foundation, the Hemophilia Association of the Capital Area, the Virginia Podiatric Medical Association, the Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Virginia, the Richmond Academy of Medicine, the Virginia Affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives, the Virginia Association of Independent Specialized Education Facilities, the Virginia Coalition of Private Provider Associations, the Virginia Association for Behavior Analysis, the Acupuncture Society of Virginia, and the Instructive Visiting Nurse Association.

“A healthy population helps make our Commonwealth economically prosperous and vibrant. As members of Virginia’s health care community, we are dedicated to helping people be healthy and thrive.

Today, there are too many Virginians who lack reliable access to necessary health services because they are uninsured. One way to help many of those people, and improve our economy, is to extend coverage to thousands of low-income Virginians who have no other reliable means to receive medical care. While safety net providers, hospital emergency departments, free clinics, community health centers, and local health fairs help meet some of those needs, this is a patchwork approach to a true public health challenge which warrants a more comprehensive solution.

There are human costs, and economic costs, for letting this issue persist without resolution. The absence of a broad-based health care coverage plan for uninsured Virginians means taxpayers are missing out on billions in funding that could strengthen our health care delivery system, improve individual well-being, produce state budget savings, and support job growth and our business community.

Fortunately, Virginia lawmakers have identified a bipartisan way forward with a plan that brings together health care and business leaders from across the Commonwealth to improve the lives of thousands of Virginians. We appreciate the earnest efforts of the Virginia General Assembly and other state leaders to identify a workable solution to this public health challenge, and we offer our continued support to the important work of increasing health care access for more Virginians.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Julian Walker
Vice President of Communications
(804) 297-3193 office
(804) 304-7402 mobile
jtwalker@vhha.com