Dear Virginia Organizing,

In response to thousands of Virginians calling, writing, and visiting their state officials and encouraging them to expand our state Medicaid program and close the coverage gap that has been created in the state, the leadership of Virginia’s House of Delegates announced a plan to do a two-year audit of our Medicaid system.  (http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/state-regional/virginia-politics/general-assembly/house-gop-leaders-urge-audit-of-medicaid-program/article_a96b7421-e0b7-5b56-bdef-14d373fb0cf6.html)  This announcement comes as several more prominent voices on both sides of the aisle have joined these thousands of supporters in calling for expansion this week. 

Former Lt. Governor Bill Bolling listed the need to expand Medicaid in a Virginian-Pilot Opinion piece saying:  "I'm no fan of Obamacare, but it is the law and over the next 10 years Virginia families and businesses will be required to pay $26 billion to finance the Affordable Care Act. Medicaid expansion is the only way we can return any of this money to Virginia.  While we certainly need to insist on continued reforms to make Medicaid more efficient and affordable, we must find common ground to enable thousands of uninsured families in Virginia to gain greater access to quality health care."

Senator Emmett Hanger introduced legislation that would allow the state to accept federal funding to expand coverage to all Virginians making under 138% of the federal poverty level this week.  Secretary Bill Hazel (who served both the McDonnell administration and now the McAuliffe dministration) has also been publicly supportive of expansion this week.

This audit proposal is just a delay tactic by the House Leadership to keep expansion from moving forward— and it is keeping thousands of low-income working families from getting health insurance coverage!   

Please call your state Delegate today and let him/her know that thousands of Virginian families simply cannot afford to wait another two years for affordable health coverage.  Then, call the members of House Leadership listed below and let them know the same!  This process is already in its fourth year since the Affordable Care Act was passed and we still have members from across the state who cannot access its benefits because Speaker Howell, Delegate Landes, and Delegate Jones want to delay expansion once again!

Delegate Chris Jones, Chair of the House Appropriations Committee:  (804) 698-1076 or (757) 483-6242 or DelCJones@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Steven Landes, Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee:  (804) 698-1025 or (540) 255-5335 or DelSLandes@house.virginia.gov

Thanks for all your support!

For more information on this issue, please contact Brian Johns at  bjohns@virginia-organizing.org  or (276) 619-1920.