Delegate Patrick Hope Introduces Legislation to Expand
Medicaid Eligibility to More Virginians
Nearly 400,000 Virginians will gain access to health insurance through Expansion
Richmond, VA - Yesterday, Delegate Patrick Hope (D-Arlington) introduced HR 129, to expand Medicaid coverage to several hundred thousand of Virginia’s poorest citizens as envisioned under the Affordable Care Act. The resolution seeks broad state flexibility to reform Virginia’s Medicaid program, making it sustainable and redesigning the system to make it more efficient, improve quality, and lower costs.
In a House floor speech asking for support of the resolution Delegate Hope said, “Extending Medicaid without adequate safeguards and sustainable reforms would be a huge mistake. And reforming Medicaid without extending it would be a costly error. We must do both.”
Delegate Hope also said, “And if you're worried about the costs of extension, nothing compares to the costs of doing nothing. But let’s do this in a responsible manner. Let's not squander this opportunity to do what we all want to do: cover more Virginians, make needed reforms to ensure the sustainability of the program, improve our economy, and lower costs.”
Delegate Hope pressed House Republican Leadership to bring the resolution to the floor for a vote saying, “What better message can we send to the Obama Administration to ask for broad state flexibility to take more control over our Medicaid program. Please give every member of this body the chance vote overwhelmingly to send this bipartisan message to Washington.”
Patrick A. Hope is a Member of the Virginia General Assembly as the Delegate from the 47th District representing part of Arlington County. He serves on the Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee and House Health, Welfare, and Institutions Committee.
