Today, Dr. Ralph Northam issued a statement calling on Ed Gillespie to be clear with Virginians about whether he supports the Senate Republican version of Trumpcare — which would put the healthcare of thousands of Virginians at risk by gutting Medicaid funding and defunding Planned Parenthood.
STATEMENT: Northam: Gillespie’s Silence on Trumpcare ‘Pitiful’
Richmond, Va. – Today, Dr. Ralph Northam issued a statement calling on Ed Gillespie to be clear with Virginians about whether he supports the Senate Republican version of Trumpcare — which would put the healthcare of thousands of Virginians at risk by gutting Medicaid funding and defunding Planned Parenthood.
Virginia is already in a vulnerable position in terms of Medicaid funding, with one of the lowest reimbursement rates in the country. Increased cuts would put services at risk for the poor, disabled, pregnant women, and the elderly — as well as potentially impact Virginians receiving treatment for opioid addiction through Medicaid managed care plans.
These steep cuts from Trumpcare would force Virginia to pick up an additional $900 million in Medicaid costs over the next ten years in order to maintain the same level of care. That will leave us Virginia with three choices: (1) raise taxes, (2) cut funding from things like schools, transportation or economic development, or (3) cut benefits, enrollment or reimbursements rates.
These cuts to Medicaid would jeopardize the health of one in three Virginia children who rely on Medicaid for their healthcare. And 15 percent of Virginia’s seniors and people with disabilities also rely on Medicaid for their care.
The proposal would also make Planned Parenthood ineligible to receive Medicaid funds, essentially defunding the organization. Planned Parenthood health centers in Virginia provide over 23,000 patients annually with a wide array of care including cancer screenings, contraception, sexually transmitted infection testing, pregnancy testing, health education, health referrals, and more, and some Planned Parenthood centers also provide primary care services directly.
In May, Dr. Northam denounced the passage of the House Republican version of the American Health Care Act, which created uncertainty over the fate of existing protections for individuals with preexisting conditions. After Ed Gillespie signaled he would “take a look” at securing a waiver exempting the commonwealth from the federal protections capping health insurance costs for individuals with pre-existing conditions, the lieutenant governor said it would be “open season” for insurance companies in Virginia to go back to one of the industry’s worst norms.
Dr. Ralph Northam today issued the following statement calling on Ed Gillespie to clarify whether he favors the Senate proposal to place the healthcare of thousands of Virginians at risk:
“Senate Republicans have put a plan on the table to put the healthcare of thousands of Virginians at risk, and yet, Ed Gillespie has nothing to say. That’s pitiful. They even gave lobbyists an advanced copy, so maybe Ed had more time than our Democratic senators to figure out where he stands.
“There are families in Virginia who are wondering whether they will have health insurance next year–they deserve to know whether Ed Gillespie is Donald Trump’s silent partner in making their coverage cost more and cover less. Mr. Gillespie is the biggest gator in Trump’s swamp, so he must feel right at home keeping his positions this murky, but Virginians deserve honesty and clarity from their leaders.
“I’ve been clear about where I stand — as governor and as a doctor, I will keep fighting this irresponsible effort to undermine our healthcare system and to ensure that no family is one medical illness away from financial demise in this commonwealth.”