McDonnell eyes health-care changes at state level

Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell worries that a national health-care overhaul that includes a public option would lead to diminished access to quality care and reduced choice for Virginians.

For those reasons, among others, the Republican has said that if given the choice to opt the state out of such a plan -- if it makes it through Congress -- he would prefer to take a pass.

Instead, McDonnell, who was a Medical Service Corps officer in the U.S. Army and later worked as a manager for American Hospital Supply Corp., has focused on changes at the state level.

On Nov. 7, the House of Representatives narrowly approved a 10-year, $1.2 trillion health-care overhaul. This week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is expected to introduce his Senate version of health-care legislation.

In 2006, the last time the U.S. census counted, more than 1 million Virginians under age 65 lacked health insurance -- and that was before the country's severe economic downturn.

McDonnell's health-care reform plan, which he rolled out during his campaign, lists a number of approaches, from controlling Medicaid spending to encouraging wellness programs in the workplace. But the governor-elect's team has not provided a number of uninsured Virginians that it estimates such reforms would cover.

Tucker Martin, McDonnell's spokesman, said they are "optimistic that the implementation of the governor-elect's proposals will help more Virginians get the health-insurance coverage that they need, while avoiding a negative impact on Virginia's small businesses and consumers."

C. Douglas Smith, executive director of the Virginia Interfaith Center, said it seems premature for the governor-elect to talk about excluding Virginia from a final health-care bill that no one has seen.

"We're hoping that Governor-elect McDonnell ensures as many people in Virginia can be covered as possible," Smith said, adding that about one in seven Virginians lacked insurance in 2007 and 2008.

McDonnell's plan includes lobbying the federal government to remove the maximum that can be contributed in a year to health savings accounts, which are designed to help people save for future medical expenses on a tax-free basis.

McDonnell also would like to help the uninsured obtain the health savings account benefits.

He said he will work with Republicans and Democrats to control Medicaid spending, and that he wants to expand loan forgiveness and scholarships for health-care professionals, with an emphasis on placement in underserved areas.

He also wants to increase funding provided to Virginia's Community Health Centers and free clinics and encourage providers to use health-information technology.

Contact Olympia Meola at (804) 649-6812 or .