Delegates Aird, James, and Pillion

On February 1, VHCA-VCAL staff met with new members of the House Appropriations subcommittee on Health and Human Resources, the panel charged with crafting the section of the budget that includes Medicaid.  VHCA-VCAL President Keith Hare and Senior Vice President of Policy and Reimbursement Steve Ford spent time talking with legislators about operations at member centers and the importance of Medicaid funding for nursing care. 

“It is critical for us to explain to legislators the importance of Medicaid funding to member centers,” notes Keith Hare.  “Building relationships and deepening delegates and senators understanding of the care members provide across the Commonwealth is one of the most critical things VHCA-VCAL does.”  Information VHCA-VCAL shares with legislators is captured in this one-pager.

They met with Del. Lashrecse Aird (D-Petersburg), Del. Matthew James (D-Portsmouth), and Del. Todd Pillion (R-Abingdon).  Delegates Aird and Pillion are new members of the House Appropriations Committee.  Del. James has previously served on the committee, but is newly appointed to the Health and Human Resources subcommittee. 

In addition to meeting with the delegates, VHCA-VCAL met with Holly Herman, legislative assistant to Sen. Emmett Hanger (R-Augusta Co.).  Sen. Hanger chairs the Health and Human Resources subcommittee of the Finance Committee and serves as a budget negotiator. 

In mid-February the budget writing committees will release their versions of the state budget, building upon the proposal introduced by former Gov. Terry McAuliffe in December.  As a reminder, Gov. McAuliffe’s proposal included full funding for the Medicaid forecast, which included inflationary adjustments for nursing centers estimated at 2.9% and 3.0% in FYs 2019 and 2020, respectively.