VPHA completed its first advocacy day on Thursday, January 27th. The advocacy day, held virtually in response to the pandemic, was a big success. VPHA members met with ten state legislators and their staff to discuss VPHA’s 2022 policy priorities and to stress the importance of public health in Virginia.
VPHA’s top priority this legislative session is for the General Assembly to pass SB 192. This bill would allow qualified public health professionals without medical degrees to serve as local health district directors (LHDs). Currently, LHD directors must have a medical degree. This unnecessary requirement has resulted in roughly a third of LHDs not having a permanent director - affecting nearly 20 percent of Virginians.
VPHA members also urged lawmakers to support Budget Amendment Item 304 #6s, which would increase the Medicaid reimbursement rate for adult dental providers by 30 percent beginning on July 1, 2022. Raising these rates will increase access to dental service for Medicaid enrollees throughout the Commonwealth.
