BRIAN MORAN ANNOUNCES SUPPORT OF NEW HEALTHCARE ACCESS INITIATIVES

invests in reducing infant mortality and easing costs to small businesses

ALEXANDRIA – House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian Moran made the following statement about Healthcare Access proposal released today by Governor Kaine. Delegate Moran was a member of the Governor’s Healthcare Reform Commission and is a member of the Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee in the House of Delegates.

“Today the Governor proposed a responsible set of initiatives to provide access to quality care for those Virginians who need it most,” said House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian Moran. “We brought together the best experts in this Healthcare Commission and developed a set of fiscally responsible proposals. The plan invests in reducing our infant morality rate and easing the rising healthcare costs for small businesses. I look forward to working hard to make sure these initiatives are successful and we expand critically needed care.”

In Virginia, we have approximately 1 million uninsured and 70% of those are working or living in a household with a working family member. The Governor’s proposal comes from recommendations of his Healthcare Reform Commission and provides $5 million each year of the biennium for free clinics, health centers and the Virginia Healthcare Foundation. We will add positions to the Office of Minority Health and Public Policy and funding for Mission of Mercy and Virginia Dental Health Foundation for the thousands who can’t afford dental care. The proposal expands healthcare services to low-income women, provides for Breast and Cervical Cancer detection and expands FAMIS to cover 400 new women. Lastly, we developed a new small business health insurance program to help provide coverage for small businesses to low-income families.

“The Governor has begun to tackle a moral crisis facing Virginia – where we have the 17th highest infant mortality rate in the nation. This plan takes the first steps to expand prenatal care and provide critical services to mothers with children in that first fragile year of life. In addition, Governor Kaine has acted on the pressing challenge rising healthcare costs present for small businesses, and developed a strong pilot program to help decrease costs to employer,” Moran said.

Brian Moran is Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus and a Delegate representing Alexandria City and Fairfax County. He is a former Arlington County Prosecutor and member of the Governors Healthcare Reform Commission. He was named the ‘Child Advocate of the Year’ by the Virginia PTA.