Although the plan is impossible to pass with a Democratic majority in Congress, leaving Virginia in control of Medicaid funding via federal block grants could reignite last year’s expansion battle.
Governor Ralph Northam vetoed four GOP bills that he claims would “undermine” Virginia’s health insurance marketplace and raise the cost of care for everyone. Ironically, this is the same problem that Republican senators say their proposals were set to fix.
On May 14, members of the Virginia State Senate will return to Bank Street in Richmond to finish, hopefully, the two-year state budget, over one month after spending plans from the lower chamber were forwarded.
A joint statement has been released by Speaker Kirk Cox and the Republican leadership after bills introduced by the governor ahead of the special session.