2017 Elections Special Edition

Greetings! This is the first of three Special Edition newsletters to help you get to know the 2017 candidates. This week's issue focuses on the candidates for Governor. Next week we'll introduce you to the candidates for Lieutenant Governor, followed the next week by the candidates for Attorney General.

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Meet the Gubernatorial Candidates!

On Tuesday, November 7, Virginians will go to the polls to elect our next Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General, as well as the full House of Delegates and a number of local officials. VHHA's Political Action Committee, HosPAC , invited all six major party candidates running for statewide office to visit with hospital leaders this month to share their positions on critical health care issues. Below, we will share some of their written responses to a candidate questionnaire.

RALPH NORTHAM Democratic candidate Current Lieutenant Governor Former state senator Pediatric neurologist Lives on the Eastern Shore

ED GILLESPIE Republican candidate Former Republican Party of Virginia & Republican National Committee Chair Lobbyist, fmr. White House Counselor Lives in Northern Virginia

Why do you want to be governor?

NORTHAM : I am running for Governor to continue the progress that we have made on diversifying the Virginia economy, improving the quality of life for Virginians, and making Virginia the best place in world for a child to grow up. A thriving, best in class health care system is an essential part of each of these commitments. GILLESPIE : I am running a campaign for ALL Virginians - to help grow our economy, foster job creation and help people lift themselves out of poverty. Virginia is at a critical juncture, and we are in trouble. If our next governor does not respond to the challenges we face with a sense of urgency and the right policies, we will fail our fellow Virginians. I have that sense of urgency and the right policies, and I will not fail us.

If elected, what issues do you anticipate being the primary focus of your work as a Governor?

NORTHAM : Growing and diversifying the Virginia economy, improving our state’s quality of life, and making Virginia the best place to grow up are all related priorities that are closely linked and each requires a strong, best in class health care system.  HosPAC Board Chair Paul Speidell (Sentara), Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Advocacy Council Chair Jennifer Siciliano (Inova), Ralph Northam GILLESPIE : Virginia’s economy is stuck and as governor I will work to spur natural, organic job creation through tax relief and regulatory reform. We must take care of our veterans and military families, fight the opioid epidemic, expand access to high speed internet in rural Virginia areas, support our law enforcement officials and promote clean, affordable energy for Virginia families. I have proposed substantive policy plans for each of these issues and more, all of which can be found at https://forallvirginians.com. Providing affordable, accessible and high-quality healthcare will be a focus of my administration. As Virginians, we must recognize that Washington, DC is not able to solve our problems. The next governor will have a unique opportunity to work collaboratively with the Republican General Assembly to get things done for Virginia.

What are the greatest health care challenges facing the Commonwealth? How would you propose addressing these challenges?

NORTHAM : Our greatest challenges are improving the financial access to care for Virginians (including improved reimbursement for high quality care and care management), developing a robust workforce to replace retiring baby boomers, and improving the quality of human service delivery by state and local agencies, most notably in mental health care. Addressing these challenges will require greater focus on pay for performance, much more aggressive efforts to optimize the full range of available federal funds for health care, and a strong focus on improved accountability by public agencies. It will also require sustained public/private efforts to build the workforce of tomorrow. GILLESPIE : We have a healthcare system that is too costly and people have to make decisions based on bureaucracy rather than benefit. We must work to reduce healthcare costs and make sure patients are in charge of healthcare decisions. HosPAC Campaign Chair and VHHA Board Member E.W. Tibbs (Centra), Ed Gillespie, VHHA Board Member Mary Zweifel (Sheltering Arms)

What are your views on hospitals and health systems and the role they play in Virginia?

NORTHAM : Hospitals and health systems are among Virginia’s core assets, providing essential health services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for all regardless of ability to pay; offering high paying jobs throughout Virginia; and training the health care workforce of tomorrow. Our health systems face the same challenges as our higher education institutions; we cannot be the best long-term if the state invests among the lowest levels of the 50 states. In addition, in most areas of the state, our hospitals are the largest employers creating economic engines for our communities. GILLESPIE : Hospitals and health systems play a crucial role in the management and care of Virginians. In the coming weeks, I will be releasing a comprehensive healthcare plan with substantive solutions to the healthcare challenges we face in our Commonwealth. Not only are our hospital and health care systems key in the quality delivery of healthcare, they are also major employers and contributors to our local and state economies.

You have recently visited a number of hospitals. What has been the most significant take away from your visits?

NORTHAM : I am impressed by how much better our ability to treat patients and improve outcomes has gotten in my health care career. I have a strong interest in personalized medicine, as I view that approach as both a tremendous economic driver for Virginia and even more importantly the next frontier in making a dramatic leap ahead in patient outcomes. GILLESPIE : Our doctors, physicians, nurses, support staff and countless other healthcare professionals working tirelessly to care for Virginians every day. We must have a system where patients are in charge of their healthcare choices and work in conjunction with hospitals and healthcare systems along the whole patient care timeline. I’m also convinced that Virginia’s hospitals have been operating in a time with tremendous uncertainty. In order to grow strong and healthy Virginians, we need strong and healthy hospitals.

Click here to read more about Ralph Northam's positions on health care issues including veteran health care, women's health, concussions, smoking ban, climate change, addiction and substance abuse. Click here to read Ed Gillespie's "Health in Our Commonwealth" proposal, which addresses issues including population health, cost and transparency, health care access, Medicaid reform, cancer research, government health care systems reform, and seniors health.

Full disclosure! HosPAC has made financial contributions to both Ed Gillespie and Ralph Northam's campaigns. Neither HosPAC nor VHHA have endorsed any statewide candidates.

Remember to VOTE on Tuesday, November 7!

Voter Registration Deadline is Monday, October 16! You can check your voter registration status, update your address (deadline 10/16), or request an absentee ballot (deadline 10/31 at 5 p.m.) on the State Board of Elections website . On the Ballot on November 7: Governor Lieutenant Governor Attorney General All 100 seats of the House of Delegates Some local offices and propositions Get a preview of who's running in your community by entering your address here: What's on My Ballot?

Do you receive our timely Hospital Grassroots Network Action Alerts? Click here to register !

Support HosPAC!

HosPAC  is VHHA's Political Action Committee HosPAC's mission is to provide members with a means for organized and effective political action, to support candidates who will work to improve quality health care supported by the Virginia hospital and health system community, and to promote efficient and responsible government. HosPAC is governed by a Board of Directors composed of hospital and health system leaders.  HosPAC's purpose is to support state candidates. The HosPAC Board evaluates candidates on their qualifications for public office, recommendations from local hospitals and/or health systems, issue philosophy, voting record, leadership roles, ability to be elected and the need for financial assistance.  After weighing these considerations, the Board then disburses money to the campaign committees and candidates who have been determined will best support quality health care initiatives and services that are vital to Virginians. With all 100 seats of the House of Delegates up for election, meeting this year's campaign goal is more important than ever! If you would like to contribute, please visit  www.vahospac.com . HosPAC participation is voluntary and not tax deductible.

Thank you for supporting Virginia hospitals!

VHHA's Advocacy Team is on the ground every day advocating for patients, hospitals, and the communities they serve, and we are excited to help you be a part of it! Julie Dime, Vice President Government Advocacy, jdime@vhha.com Dave Nutter, Regional Director for Community & Member Outreach, Southwest region and rural health policy, dnutter@vhha.com Mary Margaret Whipple, Regional Director for Community & Member Outreach, Northern Virginia region, mwhipple@vhha.com Kelly Cannon, Director of Community & Member Engagement, grassroots advocacy, kcannon@vhha.com Matt Strader, Director of Federal Affairs, mstrader@vhha.com Jennifer Wicker, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, behavioral health policy, jwicker@vhha.com Allison Lawrence Jones, HosPAC Director, aljones@vhha.com Victoria Quigley, Advocacy Assistant, vquigley@vhha.com Please don't hesitate to reach out to any member of the team, and contact Kelly with your feedback or suggestions for topics to cover in future newsletters. Thank you!

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