The Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association (VHHA) held a press conference a few minutes ago (see video and screen shots below), the theme of which was that Virginia policymakers should “do no harm” to Virginia’s hospitals and healthcare situation. As the VHHA wrote, the press conference focused on “potential health care policy changes in Washington and Richmond, and how that could impact patients and health care providers” in Virginia. Speaking at the press conference were leaders from Bon Secours Virginia Health System​, Augusta Health, and the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce.
At the press conference, VHHA presented new polling numbers from Mason-Dixon, which you can see below. For instance, Virginians by a 2:1 margin support the Certificate of Public Need (COPN) process, which promotes access to affordable health care no matter where people live (e.g., urban or rural), NOT repeal of COPN. Also from the poll, Virginians strongly support the General Assembly waiting to see what happens in Washington, DC before pursuing “significant health care policy changes at the state level.” Finally, a whopping 76% of Virginians are concerned about the future of Virginia’s hospitals…