Spanberger Was Joined at Roundtable Discussion by Former Virginia Governor Ralph Northam
EASTVILLE, Va. — Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger on Saturday led a roundtable discussion on Virginia’s Eastern Shore with former Governor Ralph Northam and local healthcare providers to discuss the Trump Administration’s attacks on Virginia’s rural health centers, clinics, and hospitals — and the patients they serve.
The discussion focused on protecting healthcare coverage for the more than 320,000 Virginians who receive coverage through Medicaid or on the marketplace through the Affordable Care Act — but are now put at risk due to Trump’s reckless tax law. Spanberger’s opponent has praised the law, which also slashes approximately $26 billion in funding for Virginia hospitals, putting at least six rural hospitals across the Commonwealth at risk of closing.
During the roundtable at Eastern Shore Rural Health System’s Eastville health center, Spanberger made clear that as Virginia’s next Governor, she will always stand up for Virginians’ ability to access healthcare and for the healthcare providers — including in rural and underserved communities — who work tirelessly to deliver lifesaving care to their neighbors.
WHAT VIRGINIANS ARE WATCHING
WAVY [Norfolk]: On Virginia’s Eastern Shore, Spanberger Leads Roundtable on Medicaid Cuts, Rural Healthcare
Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger was on the Eastern Shore with local leaders and healthcare professionals today. They discussed how the recent federal cuts to Medicaid would impact rural communities and their ability to access healthcare.
She was joined by former Governor Ralph Northam, who signed the state’s Medicaid expansion into law in 2018. Spanberger said she would protect the right to healthcare and would fight to lower health care costs.
Shore Daily News: Spanberger campaigns on the Shore with Northam, discusses Federal cuts to Medicaid
Virginia’s Democratic candidate for the upcoming governor’s race campaigned on the Eastern Shore Saturday, holding a well-attended event at the Mary Nottingham Smith Cultural Enrichment Center before meeting with healthcare professionals at Eastern Shore Rural Health in Eastville to discuss cuts to Medicaid.
The roundtable, attended by former Governor Ralph Northam — an Accomack County native and physician — brought together hospital administrators, community health center executives, free clinic leaders, and public health advocates. The focus was on the potential impacts of Medicaid cuts, subsidy reductions, and new work requirements included in a bill recently passed in Washington.
8News [Richmond]: Spanberger Discusses Medicaid Cuts, Rural Healthcare Access on Virginia’s Eastern Shore
“I believe that Virginians deserve a Governor who will not just stand up for our healthcare system and Virginia’s patients and community members, but who will actually really understand the challenges that we’re facing into the future.”
BACKGROUND
Spanberger has a proven record of lowering costs for Virginia families and seniors. During her three terms in Congress, Spanberger helped lead the charge to give Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices and save taxpayers billions of dollars in the process.
Spanberger also voted to cap insulin copays at $35 per month for seniors on Medicare and cap out-of-pocket drug costs for Virginia seniors. Additionally, President Trump signed into law Spanberger’s effort to make it harder for pharmaceutical industry middlemen — pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) — to rip off consumers.
Earlier this year, Spanberger announced her “Affordable Virginia Plan,” which will lower Virginians’ healthcare and prescription drug costs by cracking down on industry middlemen that drive up costs, hold large pharmaceutical companies accountable, improve price transparency, and expand healthcare access in rural and underserved communities across the Commonwealth.
The impacts of Republicans’ actions at the federal level are dire for Virginia. The law President Trump signed threatens healthcare access for the more than 322,000 Virginians who receive coverage through Medicaid and on the Marketplace through the Affordable Care Act.
According to the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services, the law also cuts approximately $26 billion in funding for Virginia hospitals. Across the Commonwealth, at least six rural hospitals — including one in Hampton Roads, one on the Northern Neck, and four in Southwest and Southside Virginia — are at risk of closing because of this law.
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