As you probably have heard by now, Virginia passed a budget yesterday which included new policies surrounding our Medicaid Program.
Almost exactly 4 years ago in special session, Del. Tom Rust and I introduced a bill to use federal Medicaid funds to begin reforming our Medicaid system and start bending the cost curve. Yesterday, with the leadership of Speaker Cox, Del. Jones, Sen. Hanger, and many others, we took that first step.
Let me start with an overarching statement. This is NOT a perfect bill. No initial attempt at overhauling a large state program ever is. However, it is a strong start at reforming a presently unsustainable program and provides a solid foundation to add additional reforms to reduce waste and abuse, bend the program's cost curve to lower the burden on Virginia taxpayers, and bring back affordable private insurance policies similar to those that existed prior to Washington's adoption of the Affordable Care Act.
Because there has been so much discussion on this issue even before yesterday's vote, I've been asked by many to provide my thoughts on these new Medicaid policies, the reforms added since the end of session, and what the future may hold.
I would like to invite you to virtually join me in my home tonight for a Facebook live event. I look forward to providing the above and answering your questions.
