Ann Kendall | Advocacy Work Group Committee Chair
Cold temperatures helped to buoy the huddle of 70 members of VHF as we came together over MLK weekend, to learn what’s on deck for both state and national policy agendas. Many thanks to Miriam Goldstein from HFA for leading our national discussion on the upcoming federal landscape and Becky Bowers-Lanier for the primer on state issues and bills. Kim Bobo of the Virginia Interfaith Policy Center, launched the Monday lobbying effort with motivational and inspiriting words as we set forth: believe in change, claim power and be persistent. Of special note is a resolution proposed by new Delegate Dawn Adams, for declaration of March as Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month in Virginia; if you’d like to know when this resolution comes to the General Assembly floor, please let us know.
State Issues to Watch:
Step-Therapy: VHF along with HACA support HB 386/SB 574. “The measure establishes clinical review criteria used to establish such protocols and requires carriers to establish a process by which a patient or provider may seek a step therapy override exception determination.” For full text of these bills, click here.
Healthcare Access for all Virginians: VHF and HACA are part of the HAV Coalition (Healthcare for all Virginians) and support the opportunity for 300,000 uninsured Virginian’s to receive healthcare. To follow this issue, check the HAV website as several bills cover this issue.
To contact your elected officials on these matters, you can easily find contact information here.
For Lobbyist in a Box, Virginia’s bill tracking system, go here.
Continue to watch your email, Facebook and other social media for updates on General Assembly, calls to action and upcoming agendas. Thank you all for your persistence!
Go here to see our program sponsors – thank you for your support!
