By Shawn Nowlin
Healthcare remains one of the top priorities for Virginians throughout the entire Commonwealth. One of the largest policy debates in the Virginia legislature last year was Medicaid expansion, a program that allows states to extend coverage to those 18 and older with incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level.
When voters elected Senator Tim Kaine over his Republican opponent Hung Cao to another six-year term in addition to propelling Democrats to secure six of the 11 seats in the Virginia House of Representatives on Nov. 5, it sent a clear message.
Just because Democrats won statewide on Election Day doesn’t mean that hurdles won’t present themselves.
Nearly one out of every six Americans are currently enrolled in Marketplace or Medicaid expansion coverage under provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a highlight of the Obama Administration. Forty one states, including D.C., have already adopted the Medicaid expansion.
In a released statement, Janet Kelly, Virginia’s Secretary of Health and Human Resources, said, “The adjustments in the Medicaid forecast are driven by one-time costs associated with post-pandemic redetermination, increases in services to the most vulnerable enrollees, rate increases mandated by the General Assembly and a reduction in federal matching funds because Virginia’s personal median income has grown significantly in the last three years.”
She added, “The governor’s budget will reflect these changes to the forecast and the administration will continue to prioritize oversight to ensure taxpayer dollars are used efficiently.”
Virginia, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, has one of the lowest Medicaid payment rates for personal care and home health aides in America with an annual average of $21,000.
If it were up to Monica Dawkins, every individual in that industry would have their current income doubled immediately. “I understand that there is nuance to it, but that amount of money is ludicrously low for all that they do. Collectively as a society, we should value personal care and home aides more,” she said.
Last year, Virginia became the fourth state to offer community doula services to individuals enrolled in Medicaid.
“Virginia’s doula Medicaid benefit will primarily be operationalized through the state’s Medicaid managed care (MMC) service delivery system,” Abena Asare, an Emerging Leaders of Color Fellow, said. “Services can be reimbursed from the date of confirmed conception through 180 days after delivery, contingent on the beneficiary maintaining their Medicaid eligibility.”
