February 19, 2013
IT'S YOUR LAST CHANCE TO AFFECT THE DECISION OF THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON MEDICAID EXPANSION! The deadline for the Conference Committee report has been extended, but not for long!
Will you take the time to contact your legislators before Thursday and simply say, "Please support the Senate budget amendment to expand Medicaid without delay! Virginians cannot wait."
This means you still have a chance to let your voice be heard in support of Medicaid expansion. If you have not called your Delegate and Senator, will you please take time to do that now? If you have called your legislators, call them again, ask your friends to call, and make sure you call Governor Bob McDonnell at 804-786-2211.
If your legislators are on the Conference Committee (listed below), we need you to contact them immediately. If your legislators are not on the Conference Committee, it is still important for you to call them now! Click here to find out who your legislators are and how to contact them.
The Virginia Senate and House of Delegates have named the following legislators to the Conference Committee on the Budget — they will decide if Medicaid expansion will be implemented in Virginia without delay.
House of Delegates Conferees
Lacey Putney
Steven Landes
Beverly Sherwood
Kirk Cox
Chris Jones
Johnny Joannou
Senate Conferees
Walter Stosch
Janet Howell
Charles Colgan
Emmett Hanger
John Watkins
Thomas Norment
The House version of the budget bill requires reforms of the Medicaid program before the General Assembly can even consider implementing Medicaid expansion in Virginia. This approach will delay the decision whether or not to proceed with expanding Medicaid to low-income workers and individuals until at least the next General Assembly session.
The Senate version of the budget bill includes reforms and expansion of Medicaid without delay. This means that Virginia would be able to begin Medicaid expansion as early as January 1, 2014. If we expand Medicaid without delay, more Virginians’ tax dollars will support the people of Virginia instead of going to other states that have already taken steps to expand Medicaid. Every day we delay expansion after January 1, 2014, we lose approximately $5 million of federal funding.
Thanks for all your hard work on this issue!
