NEWS RELEASE
Sept. 15, 2016
NEWPORT NEWS – In its regular session Sept. 13, the City Council of the City of Newport News approved a resolution calling on the Commonwealth’s General Assembly and Governor to fully accept federal Medicaid funding to provide healthcare coverage for an estimated 7,000 low-income city residents.
The resolution was offered by City Manager James Bourey.
Medicaid is the federal and state program that offers healthcare coverage for the poor and disabled. The low income persons who would be covered cannot afford to purchase through the Affordable Care Act’s Exchange Marketplace but don’t qualify for Virginia’s current Medicaid program because of its restrictive eligibility limits.
As of July, the City of Newport News Department of Human Services reported that it manages Medicaid enrollment for 37,911 eligible individuals. Using the available data, Medicaid expansion could potentially aid an additional 7,100 residents to gain healthcare coverage.
The resolution also touted the economic benefit of Medicaid expansion, including bringing $6.2 million a day from the federal government into Virginia, bolstering the state’s hospital and healthcare industry and the general economy as well. The Department of Medical Assistance Services estimates that Virginia would see a net savings of $265 million through fiscal years 2022, with the state’s small match being more than offset by savings in healthcare for inmates, mental health, indigent care and other state-funded health services.
Health insurance statistics released this week by the U.S. Census Bureau indicate that the rate of uninsured fell last year in 47 states and the District of Columbia, including Virginia. Nationwide, the rate of uninsured dropped 1.3 percentage points in 2015, from 10.4 percent in 2014 to 9.1 percent. Virginia’s uninsured rate in 2015 matched the national average at 9.1 percent, but decreased at a lower rate than nationally.
In Virginia many city, town and county officials know that they have a healthcare crisis. Local hospitals and healthcare facilities are struggling to provide adequate charity care. The decision on drawing down federal Medicaid dollars for a Virginia plan to close the coverage gap is a decision that must be made by the General Assembly.
According to Executive Director Kim Bobo, the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy hopes these resolutions being adopted by community officials can help members of the General Assembly realize the local constituent support that exists to close Virginia’s healthcare coverage gap.
For more information on the City of Newport News, visit www.nnva.gov. For information on the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, visit www.virginiainterfaithcenter.org.
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Neill Caldwell, Communications Director
Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy
1716 E. Franklin St. Richmond, VA 23223
www.virginiainterfaithcenter.org