Home Abigail Spanberger Spanberger on GOP Tax Bill’s Threat to VA’s Hospitals, Healthcare: Youngkin, Earle-Sears...

Spanberger on GOP Tax Bill’s Threat to VA’s Hospitals, Healthcare: Youngkin, Earle-Sears “should be standing up to these attacks and building a plan for protecting our most vulnerable neighbors, rather than praising these cuts”

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From the Spanberger for Governor campaign:

Spanberger Responds to New Report on GOP Tax Bill’s Threat to Virginia’s Healthcare System

Axios Richmond: Virginia Hospitals and Clinics Are Warning that the Bill Could Force Virginia Hospitals to Close, Lead to Longer Wait Times

Spanberger: “Virginia’s Governor and Lieutenant Governor Should Be Standing up to These Attacks, Rather than Praising Them”

RICHMOND, Va. — Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger today responded to new reporting on Virginia hospitals and clinics warning that the GOP tax bill threatens to “trigger a domino effect across Virginia’s healthcare system.”

According to Axios Richmond, local healthcare providers are sounding the alarm on how the new law’s changes could lead to “increasing costs, wait times, and the risk of staff layoffs as hundreds of thousands lose coverage.” Additionally, the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association described how the phase-down of Medicaid payments “could cost Virginia hospitals over $2 billion annually.”

“This report makes clear what I’m hearing from parents, families, and healthcare providers across the Commonwealth. They are stressed about what this legislation means for their communities as they grapple with the loss of health insurance for thousands of Virginians or their local hospital being forced to close its doors, all because of this reckless bill. Virginians deserve better than this chaos.

“Virginians deserve elected officials who are focused on defending access to healthcare coverage and lowering costs for our citizens, not ripping away health insurance or driving up premiums. Right now, Virginia’s Governor and Lieutenant Governor should be standing up to these attacks and building a plan for protecting our most vulnerable neighbors, rather than praising these cuts. As the next Governor of Virginia, I will always put the health, financial security, and safety of Virginians before any political agenda.”

Following the final passage of the GOP tax bill last week, Spanberger outlined the severe consequences of this legislation for Virginia patients, families, and healthcare providers.

BACKGROUND

The GOP’s tax bill will hurt access to affordable healthcare coverage across the Commonwealth:

  • More than 322,000 Virginians could lose their healthcare coverage.
  • More than 388,000 Virginians on the Marketplace could see their premiums increase significantly – if they don’t lose coverage entirely. A 60-year old couple who lives in Roanoke and makes approximately $81,000 a year could see their premiums rise by over $1,000 per month.
  • At least six rural hospitals, including four in Southwest and Southside Virginia, one in Hampton Roads, and one in the Northern Neck — could be at risk of closure.

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