This week I had the unique experience of sitting on a eight candidate panel for a forum hosted by the Louisa County Chamber of Commerce. There were six Republicans and two Democrats, including myself. Each of us are running for our respective party’s nomination for the 56th House of Delegates seat. We had a respectful and interesting conversation on a wide array of topics, and I was struck by several things. But what really stood out was that each of the six Republicans, without exception, espoused the same dangerous ideas and rhetoric surrounding healthcare that we are hearing at the federal level. They continue to stand firmly behind policies that would directly harm the majority of folks living in our district and the commonwealth.
Twenty years ago when I applied to graduate school, I chose a masters in healthcare for a specific reason. I wanted a field where I could not only have a career, but one where I could make a real difference in people’s lives. Back then the system was broken and complicated and I wanted to do something about it. Even with the substantial improvements made by the ACA, the healthcare system remains non transparent and too expensive for many, but I could never have foreseen just how pertinent my career choice would become in 2017.
At the forum, a woman whose son is on Medicaid asked how each of us, as Delegate, would work to preserve Medicaid which her her son, like hundreds of thousands of Virginians, relies on to cover the treatments he needs to live. The other candidates told her she would have to wait until ACA is sorted out at the national level. Her son would be taken care of... eventually. Others blamed the shortcomings of Medicaid on “welfare queens” gaming the system. I could hardly wait my turn to speak.
This is not the time to wait! This is the time for action! This woman’s child and so many other children are at risk. As could we all be in the blink of an eye. The President's latest budget proposes $800 BILLION in Medicaid cuts. Thousands of Virginians could quite simply be bankrupted by these changes. The republican answer to this woman? We will pray for you but you have to wait. Trust us.
The time is now and the clear and away choice for Delegate is me. I am ready to roll up my sleeves on day one and bring my vast healthcare experience to bear. I recently left my job of 14 years at a major health insurance company. One of the reasons I did so is so that I will never have to recuse myself from any healthcare votes. That is how confident I am in my candidacy and how committed I am to being above reproach.
We will find a way to preserve Medicaid and expand it for 400,000 Virginians who are currently being forced to go without care. I negotiate healthcare contracts for a living and I know what works and what does not, I understand we need to do to help healthcare providers transition to a system based on maintaining health from the current system based on treating illness. This is is my passion. Coupled with my professional expertise I am uniquely qualified to lead the charge to ensure all Virginians are protected and able to prosper.
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