Events will be held in Charlottesville, Danville, Fredericksburg, Martinsville, Petersburg, Richmond, Staunton, St. Charles and Suffolk
TIMES, LOCATIONS AND SPEAKERS ARE LISTED AT THE END OF THIS ADVISORY
Abingdon, VA — Virginia Organizing, a nonpartisan statewide grassroots organization, will hold nine media conferences across the Commonwealth on Friday, February 7, 2014, to support Medicaid expansion in Virginia.
“There is widespread support for the Virginia General Assembly to make sure that we close the insurance gap and expand Medicaid so that 400,000 Virginians can have health insurance,” said Sandra A. Cook, Chairperson of Virginia Organizing. “We want to raise the voices of those who are directly affected by the decisions that the legislature will be making regarding health insurance coverage over the next month. And they will be joined by mayors, directors of community health centers, small business owners and other community leaders.”
"As someone who is under 26,” said Nicholas DeFilippis of Henrico, “I only have one parent and I cannot get help from him because he has employment troubles and is uninsured as a result. I have had trouble securing any work that isn't temporary after graduating college last year. I fall in the coverage gap, so I need Medicaid until I get on my feet."
“I am a Chesapeake resident that is self- employed,” said Kathy Stanley. “As a somewhat healthy individual, I am not eligible for any current Medicaid assistance but make way too little money to get any assistance at all through the new Health Insurance Marketplace. How am I supposed to take responsibility for my own health with no access to any affordable health care insurance options?"
“We cannot delay any longer,” Cook said. “The Affordable Care Act provides 100 percent federal funding to support Medicaid expansion through 2016. After that, the federal contribution is gradually reduced to no less than 90 percent of the cost. This very significant federal funding supports 30,000 new jobs in Virginia. And we simply cannot afford to lose $5 million each and every day we do not expand health insurance coverage for some of our most economically stressed neighbors.”
"Medicaid expansion is critical for the thousands of our patients who cannot afford health insurance under the ACA (Affordable Care Act). Not to expand Medicaid will increase the cost of health care for everyone which will have a negative impact on the health of our economy," said Kay Crane, CEO, Piedmont Access to Health Services (PATHS), which has offices in Danville, Chatham, Martinsville and Boydton.
"With an unemployment rate over 13 percent, Martinsville knows that health care and workforce issues are related,” said Barbara Jackman, Executive Director, Martinsville-Henry County Coalition for Health and Wellness. “For us, health is not a goal in itself but it's the gateway to employment, activity and an overall higher quality of life. The Affordable Care Act has given our community a lot of tools to become healthier, and Medicaid expansion is an important part of that process."
“Many of the inmates in Virginia's jails would be eligible for Medicaid under the expansion,” said Kristin Szakos, Chair of the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail Authority Board. “Currently, localities have to foot the bill if any of these inmates are treated outside the jail. These outside medical expenses are hard to anticipate, and can be incredibly high. Medicaid expansion would cover these expenses and eliminate that huge unknown from local budgets.”
To interview a spokesperson for Virginia Organizing, please contact Joe Szakos at (434) 984-4655 x222 or(434) 981-0855 or szakos@virginia-organizing.org.
Virginia Organizing is a non-partisan statewide grassroots organization that brings people together to create a more just Virginia.
Charlottesville
10 a.m. — Region Ten Community Services Board, 500 Old Lynchburg Road (22903), Room 500A, Charlottesville, VA (434-972-1800 for directions)
Speakers:
Robert Johnson, Executive Director, Region Ten Community Services Board
k ristin Szakos, Chair, Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail Authority Board
Christopher Peyton – uninsured
Danville
10 a.m. — Piedmont Access to Health Services (PATHS) Training Room, 705 Main Street, Danville, VA 24541
Speakers:
Sherman Saunders, Mayor, City of Danville
Dr. Saria Saccoria, Chief Medical Officer, Danville Regional Medical Center
Michelle Proffit, Family Nurse Practitioner, PATHS
Johnny Mayo, Virginia Organizing State Governing Board
PATHS patient
Fredericksburg
1:00 p.m. — Shiloh New Site Baptist Church, 525 Princess Anne Street, Fredericksburg, VA
Speakers:
Eunice Haigler
Dawn Googe
Trisha Martin
Dr. Timothy Powell, founder of the Fredericksburg Christian Health Center
Martinsville
1:30 p.m. — Virginia Organizing building (618 E. Church Street, Martinsville, VA 24112)
Speakers:
Barbara Jackman, Executive Director, Martinsville-Henry County Coalition for
Health and Wellness
Debra Poirier, member of Piedmont CSB (Martinsville, Henry County, Patrick
County and Franklin County)
Petersburg
10 a.m. — Petersburg Public Library, 137 S. Sycamore Street, Petersburg, VA
Speakers:
Jelicia Carter
Jarron Person
Linwood Christian
Richmond
10 a.m. — Center for High Blood Pressure, 1200 West Cary Street, Richmond, VA
Speakers:
Lillie A. Estes, Community Strategist with ALO Community Strategy
Consulting
Nicholas DeFilippis, unemployed
Kevin Wilson, owner Stick to GoGo
Dave Baldwin, Executive Director of the Center For High Blood Pressure
Pamela Moore-Barr, who works at the Center
Staunton
11 a.m. — Library Foster Room at Trinity Episcopal Church, 214 West Beverley Street, Staunton, VA 24401
Speakers:
Nita Witting, Virginia Organizing Member
Dave Rochford, Superintendent, Staunton District, The Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church
St. Charles (Lee County)
1 p.m. — Stone Mountain Health Services – St. Charles Clinic, 241 Monarch Road, St. Charles, VA
Speakers:
Dr. Art Van Zee
Sr. Beth Davies Rosemary Hopkins
Resident of Kentucky who is part of their Medicaid expansion program
Suffolk
10 a.m. — Southeastern Virginia Community Health Center Clinic, 157 North Main Street, Suffolk, VA
Speakers:
Dayne Bayle
Ernest and Karen Sykes
Yolander Burke-Davis
Stephen Gillifin
Gayle Teel
Virginia Organizing is a non-partisan statewide grassroots organization that brings people together to create a more just Virginia.
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