Health Equity

young black child receiving an ear exam

Young people in Virginia must have equitable access to the resources necessary for a lifetime of good health.


Access to high-quality health care services and comprehensive health insurance coverage is vital for all families in Virginia. Since Virginia expanded access to Medicaid in 2019, young people and their families have greater access to health insurance coverage, with over 800,000 children and youth enrolled. And continuous coverage provisions during the COVID-19 public health emergency helped to reduce the rate of uninsured children and demonstrated the importance of having uninterrupted health coverage. Unfortunately, as Virginia has navigated Medicaid coverage redeterminations during Medicaid Unwinding, we have seen over 81,000 children lose health insurance coverage, adding to the roughly 87,000 children in Virginia who are uninsured due to administrative guidelines and barriers, language and literacy barriers, and immigration status requirements. 

Access to health care does not end with having health insurance coverage. Equitable access to health care includes accessible health care services in all communities. It includes care that promotes the long-term improvement of health outcomes and environments in which individuals are treated with dignity and respect and given culturally responsive and gender-affirming care. 


Our 2024 Health Equity Priorities:

  1. Fund “Cover All Kids” and expand comprehensive and affordable health insurance coverage to all children in Virginia regardless of immigration status.   
  2. Amend the state plan to allow for Medicaid reimbursement of services provided by Community Health Workers (CHW). 
  3. Establish an implicit bias training mandate for all professionals licensed by the Boards of Medicine and Nursing.  
  4. Increase Medicaid reimbursement rates so that more providers are able and willing to accept Medicaid patients. 

button that says previous legislative outcomes
Track legislative progress via our 2024 Bill Tracker.


Voices is a member of the Healthcare for All Virginians (HAV) Coalition and the PUSH Maternal Health Coalition. Voices serves on the Department of Medical Assistance Services’ (DMAS) Childrens Health Insurance Program Advisory Committee (CHIPAC) and DMAS’ Medical Care Advisory Committee.  

 

For more information, contact Emily Moore.