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State sees increase in addiction treatment access as lawmakers consider expanding care
A state agency is reporting substantial gains in addiction treatment under Virginia’s Medicaid expansion — a report that comes as lawmakers consider several budget proposals to expand the continuum of care for substance use disorders. The state unrolled new addiction treatment services in 2017, when 1,536 state residents died of fatal overdoses. That year, Virginia […]
Virginia is poised to create its own health insurance marketplace. Here’s what you need to know.
Virginia is poised to become the 14th state to create its own health insurance exchange via two bills working their way through both chambers of the General Assembly. Filed on behalf of Gov. Ralph Northam, who endorsed new health care initiatives in a column last October, the legislation aims to stabilize the often-volatile health plan […]
Lawmakers from both parties agree: It’s time to step up state aid for needy school districts
When it comes to stressing the needs of cash-strapped school districts, Keith Perrigan, president of the state’s Coalition of Small and Rural Schools, likes to let other educators do the talking. Members of the coalition shared plenty of anecdotes at a news conference on Thursday outlining their priorities in the ongoing legislative session. Among them: […]
Smaller crowds but continued anger at Virginia’s second March for Life rally
More than a year has passed since video of Del. Kathy Tran, D-Fairfax, attempting to explain her ultimately unsuccessful, controversial late-term abortion bill ignited a furor. But outrage was still fresh at Virginia’s second March for Life rally, where many anti-abortion activists cited the legislation as their reason for attending. “It’s infanticide,” said Noreen Rodgers, […]
Will Virginia lawmakers finally agree on a way to end surprise medical bills? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
A cold war over how to stop surprise medical bills in Virginia has been dragging on for years. On one side are insurance companies. On the other are doctors and hospitals. Trapped in the middle are patients, who get stuck with expensive medical bills after finding out after the fact that they were treated by […]
Virginia House, Senate pass long-anticipated immigrants’ rights bills
Legislation extending driver privileges and in-state tuition regardless of immigration status, pushed for years by advocates for Virginia immigrants, cleared both chambers of the General Assembly Tuesday. “There’s a growing cognizance that these are communities who need licenses and in-state tuition,” said Monica Sarmiento, the executive director of the Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights. “They’re […]