To: Kathy K.L. Tran (VA-42)
Support Medicaid Expansion in Virginia
We have an opportunity to expand access to health care in Virginia and bring greater prosperity to our state during this special session. We need the support of delegates such as Dave Albo to make it happen.
Why is this important?
Del. Albo: We need your support for expanding Medicaid in Virginia. As you probably know, there is strong support for this expansion in your district. As each of us will soon be reminded when we file our taxes, Virginians are paying for a host of federal programs, including this Medicaid expansion. We are paying for this program already and then not accepting the money from the federal government that is ours!
Worse than that, whether we expand the program or not, we ARE paying for the care of the uninsured. We pay thousands of dollars to treat infections in the emergency room that could have been cleared up with $2 antibiotics. There is chicken pox going through my local schools and mumps are taking hold in the Midwest because vaccine rates are down. Uninsured Virginians are diverting money from other important budget priorities, and we can cover them for free for three years and at only 10% cost indefinitely thereafter. That is not to mention the economic and social benefits of having 191,000 poor and disabled Virginians more healthy and with more money to spend locally.
I have written you previously, and you stated then that you were not opposed to expanding Medicaid under three conditions: a guarantee that the federal government pays its 90%, that Medicaid cost us no more than it does now, and that Virginia be allowed to investigate and prosecute fraud. The Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act, a federal law for years now, states that the federal government will pay 90% of the cost of expansion indefinitely after 3 years: only an act of Congress can change it. The Medicaid expansion will save us at least that 10% in reducing uncompensated care and cost-shifting. Of course, you know there will never be support for having states investigate federal crimes and enforce federal laws. You'll have to suck that up and do what is right for Virginia anyway. We could use your leadership and your independence here.
Worse than that, whether we expand the program or not, we ARE paying for the care of the uninsured. We pay thousands of dollars to treat infections in the emergency room that could have been cleared up with $2 antibiotics. There is chicken pox going through my local schools and mumps are taking hold in the Midwest because vaccine rates are down. Uninsured Virginians are diverting money from other important budget priorities, and we can cover them for free for three years and at only 10% cost indefinitely thereafter. That is not to mention the economic and social benefits of having 191,000 poor and disabled Virginians more healthy and with more money to spend locally.
I have written you previously, and you stated then that you were not opposed to expanding Medicaid under three conditions: a guarantee that the federal government pays its 90%, that Medicaid cost us no more than it does now, and that Virginia be allowed to investigate and prosecute fraud. The Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act, a federal law for years now, states that the federal government will pay 90% of the cost of expansion indefinitely after 3 years: only an act of Congress can change it. The Medicaid expansion will save us at least that 10% in reducing uncompensated care and cost-shifting. Of course, you know there will never be support for having states investigate federal crimes and enforce federal laws. You'll have to suck that up and do what is right for Virginia anyway. We could use your leadership and your independence here.