December 15, 2013
STATEMENT from Michael Cassidy, President of The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis on the budget introduced by Gov. Bob McDonnell
“Denying Virginians access to the health care they need is bad for Virginia’s budget and economy,” says Michael Cassidy, President of The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis. “Governor McDonnell’s choice not to expand Medicaid in his proposed budget will cost the state at least $270 million over the next two years and leave nearly 200,000 Virginians without access to quality, affordable health care. These Virginians who make too much to qualify for Virginia’s current Medicaid program but not enough for subsidies in the new health insurance marketplace will be left out in the cold. Thankfully incoming Governor Terry McAuliffe has made expanding Medicaid a top priority so this will not be the last word that a Virginia governor has on this critical issue.”