POLICY PRIORITY: Health Security
Why?
What are we doing?
What are we doing?
We believe that all people should have access to affordable, safe, and appropriate health care. We are especially concerned that all children and adults have access to necessary services in a manner that does not burden them.
What are we doing?
What are we doing?
What are we doing?
We participate in coalitions to ensure that Medicaid is available to more people that face healthcare insecurity. Priorities in 2026 include ensuring Virginia has the resources to care for our most vulnerable residents after deep federal cuts through the budget process.
Health Security Policies SALT is supporting in 2026
Safety Net Facilities
Community Health Centers & Free Clinics
- Sen. Locke Item 282 #3s & Del. Herring Item 282 #3h: $21.1m in additional funding for FQHCs
- Sen. Locke Item 292 #9s: $10m in additional funding for Free and Charitable Clinics
- Del. Willett Item 282 #1h: $30m in additional funding for Free and Charitable Clinics
These funds will ensure that folks in underserved and underresourced communities will have access to quailty healthcare
State Support for ACA
Decrease the Cost of Insurance so More Can Afford
- Sen. Deeds Item 478 #3s: $469.3m GF to fully replace expired federal enhanced ACA subsidies over two years
- Del. Tran Item 478 #5h: $184.8m GF for one year pilot program to fully replace expired federal enhanced ACA subsidies for those between 100% FPL - 200% FPL and replace half of expired federal enhanced ACA subsidies for those between 201% FPL and 400% FPL. Explicitly includes refugees, asylees, and humanitarian parolees.
We want to decrease the cost of care by offsetting the cost of insurance. We are aiming to make sure investments are equitable and target low and moderate-income Virginia residents while also providing relief to higher-income families.
Protecting Medicaid & FAMIS
Defending Virginia’s Medicaid/CHIP program from harmful cuts
- Sen. Favola Item 290 #1s & Del. Tran Item 290 #1h: $29.5m GF to restore funding to the FAMIS Prenatal Program
- Sen. Favola Item 291 #1s: $238.2m GF to restore inflation adjusted funding to Medicaid reimbursement rates
- Del. Willett Item 291 #55h: $23.6m GF to remove proposed $2,000 cap on Medicaid Adult Dental Services
These budget amendments will ensure continuity of care after devestating federal cuts.
Children's Healthcare
Increasing Children’s Health Coverage Eligibility to 305% of the Federal Poverty Level
- Sen. Srinivasan: Item 290 #4s $291.8m GF to increase FAMIS income eligibility to 305% of the federal poverty level
This will allow more working families to access critical health coverage for their children.