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Virginia C apitol C onnections, Winter 2015
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In September 2014, Governor McAuliffe
unveiled A Healthy Virginia , his plan
to expand access to health care in the
Commonwealth in the absence of Medicaid
expansion. While the coverage gap remains
open, this plan offers programs and services
to improve the health of Virginians, including
individuals with serious mental illness,
veterans and families. Comprised of 10
initiatives, the plan aims to strengthen our
health care system through strong outreach,
increased access, and thoughtful innovation.
Each piece of A Healthy Virginia is designed to remove barriers and
provide solutions.
A few short months later, all of these initiatives are underway.
The following is an update on several pieces of the plan that have been
implemented.
The Governor’s Access Plan
for Medical and Behavioral Health Services
Because we know that mental illness can be devastating to
individuals, families and communities, and is inextricably linked to
physical health, A Healthy Virginia has a
clear focus on delivery of mental health
services. Among the initiatives taken by
the Administration is a program called the
Governor’s Access Plan (GAP), which
offers limited physical and behavioral
health coverage for uninsured Virginians
with serious mental illness whose income
is at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty
Level, which is less than $12,000 annually
for an individual. The plan is designed to
ensure that up to 20,000 Virginians with
serious mental illness get the care they
desperately need. The Department of
Medical Assistance Services in Virginia
worked tirelessly with the federal Centers
for Medicare and Medicaid Services
to develop this program in the summer and fall of 2014. Partnering
with Community Services Boards and Magellan of Virginia, the
Commonwealth’s behavioral health services administrator, the GAP
program will begin on January 12, 2015 and end either after two years
or when Medicaid is expanded inVirginia, whichever occurs first.
Reducing Prescription Drug and Heroin Abuse
Overdose deaths from heroin and prescription opioids are rising at
an alarming rate in Virginia. In 2013, more than 900 Virginians died
from an overdose. This is a complex public health issue that requires
awareness from the public, health care providers, mental health
workers, and law enforcement about the causes and effects of opioids,
including both heroin and prescription narcotics. On September 26,
2014, Governor McAuliffe signed Executive Order 29, forming the
Governor’s Task Force on Prescription Drug and Heroin Abuse. The
Task Force, which will produce a comprehensive implementation
plan to combat opioid abuse by June 30, 2015, has already provided
initial recommendations to the Governor, including several pieces of
legislation.
Prioritizing the Health of Virginia’s Veterans
Virginia has the honor of having the fastest growing veteran
population of any state in the nation. Unfortunately, the capacity of
the VA system has not kept up with the rapidly growing population
in the Commonwealth. Many veterans have to wait too long or travel
too far for their VA appointments. The Administration is committed to
working with the VA to ensure that all Virginia’s veterans have access
to timely, quality health care. On November 3, we convened the first-
ever Summit on Expanding Health Care Access for Virginia Veterans,
bringing together over 70 top leaders from the VA and private health
systems to discuss how to work together and leverage the new federal
Veterans Choice Act to improve access for veterans. One of the positive
outcomes of this event is that several Federally Qualified Health Centers
have already signed up with the Choice program and can see eligible
veterans in their communities who previously would have had to travel
over 40 miles toVA facilities for appointments.
Supporting Enrollment in the Federal Marketplace
During the current open enrollment period, we are working to
ensure that Virginians who are eligible for health insurance on the
Federal Marketplace are fully aware of their options. In addition to the
Community Health Education Project, an education campaign being
administered by the Virginia Poverty Law Center, Virginia has also
kicked off a traditional marketing campaign. On January 1, 2015, nearly
90,000 Virginians had signed up for new health insurance plans on the
Marketplace, and about 75,000 more had renewed existing plans. With
the leadership of community and state partners, Virginia now has a
dedicated team of in-person assisters and health insurance specialists
working to guide individuals through the application process. Open
enrollment will end on February 15 this
year, and most Virginians will not be able
to purchase insurance again until the fall
of 2016, when open enrollment begins
again.
Informing Virginians of their
Health Care Options
Additionally, Virginia enhanced the
website to help support
open enrollment goals. The site, which
previously was a resource for Virginians
to learn about the Medicaid and FAMIS
programs, was enhanced just prior to open
enrollment to include information about
the Federal Marketplace. The site was
reorganized for clarity in differentiating
programs, and several features were added to help Virginians interested
in enrolling on the Federal Marketplace. In addition to new information
and resources, the site also now has a new eligibility calculator and
a tool to connect Virginians with consumer assisters in their local
communities.
• Since November 15 has received:
• More than 120,000 unique visits
• More than 2,500 click-throughs to
• More than 5,500 click-throughs to Virginia’s CommonHelp online
application
• Almost 19,000 eligibility screenings
State Innovation Model Grant
On December 16, 2014,Virginia was awarded a $2.6 million federal
grant to develop new statewide health care models built around a series
of aggressive public health goals ranging from reductions in tobacco
use to improved mental health care. The one-year grant awarded by the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will provide financial and
technical support beginning in January to develop the Virginia Health
Innovation Plan. The goal of the plan is to improve health outcomes for
all Virginians, regardless of insurance status.
While we continue to work toward realizing the goals of A Healthy
Virginia, it is important to recognize that the coverage gap still exists in
Virginia. Expanding Medicaid is the best way to create access for the
estimated 400,000Virginians who are currently uninsured.
Updates on Select Pieces of the Healthy Virginia Plan
By William A. Hazel Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Resources
Photo by Michaele White
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