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Affordable Care Act

Monday, January 7, 2013

Arlington To Lawmakers: Expand Medicaid, Social Safety Net Programs

County's legislative delegation heads to Richmond as 'underdogs' in Virginia General Assembly.

Virginia lawmakers who represent Arlington in Richmond have another tough year ahead of them. The county's seven-member legislative delegation — Sens. Janet Howell, Barbara Favola and Adam Ebbin, plus Dels. Bob Brink, Patrick Hope, Alfonso Lopez and freshman Rob Krupicka, all Democrats — spent three hours Friday night listening to a long list of concerns and requests from individuals and organizations. Overwhelmingly, people asked legislators to bolster funding for social safety net programs, particularly in the realms of mental health, substance abuse, developmental disabilities and brain injuries. They asked, too, that the delegation work to expand Medicaid and implement the Affordable Care Act in Virginia, including establishing an …

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Arlington Legislators Critical of 'Safety Net' Cuts

Hope, Lopez: Proposed cuts to free clinics, other health care services could cost Virginia more in the long-term.

Local legislators say Gov. Bob McDonnell’s proposed cuts to the state’s health care safety net – a long list of providers that includes the Arlington Free Clinic – could end up costing Virginia more in the long run. McDonnell, a Republican, has proposed a two-year, $85 billion spending plan that moves millions from public education and health care over to three areas his administration considers priorities: transportation, higher education and the state’s pension system. It withholds $300 million in inflationary increases from Medicaid and several million more from various safety net agencies. Among the latter cuts is about $1.6 million to the Virginia Association of Free Clinics. Del. Alfonso Lopez, D-Arlington, called the safety net cuts…

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