Senator embarks on health tour

Building on the success of a rural healthcare tour earlier this month, state Sen. Bill Stanley (R-Moneta) will conduct a second rural healthcare tour of the 20th District Tuesday, Sept. 2, to further discuss options and strategies for rural healthcare.

Stanley plans to visit TriArea Community Health Center in Meadows of Dan, Pioneer Community Hospital and Caring Hearts Free Clinic in Stuart, Centra Health Center in Gretna, and Halifax Regional Health System in South Boston.

“Based on the overwhelming success of the first tour, I decided to further our initiative by conducting more in-depth research,” Stanley said.

“We are gathering information from hospitals, free clinics, and other entities so that we can enjoin a full spectrum healthcare solution for our citizens, from Galax to Halifax County, without burdening the Virginia taxpayer with the overwhelming costs of Medicaid expansion.”

According to the senator, the existing Medicaid program in Virginia accounts for 21 percent of the state budget, or over $18 billion every two years.

The program is growing at an average of 8 percent per year, or more than $1 billion every three years for Virginia’s taxpayers without the proposed Medicaid expansion.

“To meet that existing requirement and its increasing financial obligation to the current Medicaid system, Virginia must either take the money from education and public safety, or increase taxes,” Stanley said.

When the future costs of Medicaid expansion are added to the equation, it may cost Virginia an additional $1 billion each year.

“It is an expense that we cannot afford,” the senator said. “Clearly, we need alternatives to Medicaid expansion. We are learning multiple perspectives so we can develop solutions that reach across to all citizens from all healthcare entities.”

 Stanley believes a solution exists to close the “coverage gap” for people not covered by the Affordable Care Act and help hospitals that have lost funding without adding to the state’s debt.

“Medicaid expansion is simply not the answer,” he said. “The citizenry deserves logical, affordable alternatives. Our purpose for the tour is clear: to discover ways that Virginia, in partnership with the healthcare industry, can reduce costs of healthcare and improve the delivery of care to those in need, regardless of their income level.”

 Stanley will be at Centra Health in Gretna at 1:45 p.m.