Virginia budget plan would support healthcare safety net without expanding Medicaid

Virginia House and Senate budget negotiators have reached an agreement that would not expand Medicaid under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) had sought, but does include $132.9 million to support the healthcare safety net, according to The Washington Post.

The budget proposal provides 22,000 severely mentally ill patients with healthcare and prescription drug benefits, almost doubles funding for free clinics to $6 million and increases funding for children’s psychiatry and crisis services, according to the report.

Lawmakers in the Virginia House and Senate could vote on the budget plan by Feb. 26.

Virginia budget plan would support healthcare safety net without expanding Medicaid

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