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Dear Friend,
This week’s newsletter sounds the alarm again on proposed Medicaid cuts, shares information as we head into the final days of early voting for the June Primary election, provides updates from the Virginia Disability Commission, and highlights select community engagements from this past week. Thank you for reading this newsletter and for staying informed.
The Impact of the Congressional Reconciliation Bill on Medicaid in Virginia
Regrettably, if I sound like a broken record, it is because our entire healthcare system in Virginia is facing multiple points of crisis because of the impacts of decisions that are being made by the Trump administration and the Republican-controlled Congress. The proposed Congressional Reconciliation budget bill will have profound and far-reaching consequences for Virginia’s Medicaid program, threatening healthcare access for hundreds of thousands. At the center of the bill are significant changes that will restructure how Medicaid is funded, administered, and accessed. For states such as Virginia, the repercussions will be severe and harmful.
Key elements of the bill include a shift from open-ended federal Medicaid funding to a per-capita cap model which means that federal funding will be limited to a fixed amount for every enrollee, regardless of the actual cost of care. Additionally, the bill introduces work requirements for adults without dependents. Medicaid data shows that a large share of adult Medicaid recipients are already working , or they are providing care for others, are in school, or are dealing with serious health issues. According to studies from the Kaiser Family Foundation and other health policy groups, 60% of non-disabled adults on Medicaid already work while the rest are ill, disabled, caregiving, or in school . Additionally, the bill eliminates the enhanced federal reimbursement rate that Virginia and other states have relied on for Medicaid Expansion under the ACA.
The financial implications for Virginia are serious and destructive. Over 630,000 Virginians gained health coverage through Medicaid expansion, and many of them are now at risk of losing it. To preserve coverage at current levels, Virginia would have to find an estimated $2.5 billion in additional annual funding. This is a scenario that will likely require cuts to other public services or substantial tax increases.
Beyond the budgetary impact, the bill may force Virginia to limit or eliminate optional services such as dental care, behavioral health programs, and long-term community-based care. These services are vital for improving health outcomes and supporting populations such as seniors, low-income families, and people with disabilities. Reduced provider reimbursement rates also discourage healthcare professionals from accepting Medicaid patients, further restricting access, especially in the rural and underserved communities that are already struggling with healthcare shortages.
The Virginia Board for People with Disabilities, along with organizations such as the Arc of Virginia and Voices for Virginia’s Children, have expressed deep concern about the bill’s disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable. Rolling back Medicaid coverage and funding will result in higher rates of illness, emergency room visits, and preventable deaths.
The reconciliation bill threatens the stability of Medicaid in Virginia and risks undoing years of progress in expanding healthcare access. With hundreds of thousands of residents relying on the program for essential services, the proposed cuts threaten to impact our ability to deliver quality health care in the Commonwealth.
Final Days of Early Voting for the June Primary Election
Early voting continues across Virginia for the June 17 Primary Elections ; early voting is available through Saturday, June 14. A comprehensive list of all Virginia primaries is available through the Virginia Department of Elections [[link removed]-(for-web)-v3.pdf] . All 133 Virginia counties and cities are holding Democratic primary elections because of the nomination contests for Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General (no Republican nomination contests for these races are being held because the Virginia GOP has selected its candidates). Primaries are also being held for those Delegate districts in which either Democratic or Republican House of Delegate races are being contested.
For constituents in Senate District 15 (City of Richmond and Chesterfield County), early voting locations are the following:
City of Richmond Early Voting
Early in-person voting is available for City of Richmond residents at the Office of Elections (2134 West Laburnum Avenue, Richmond) from 8:30am until 5:00pm, Monday through Friday, until June 13. Saturday voting is available on June 14 from 9:00am until 5:00pm.
Additional satellite locations are now open. Voting hours for satellite locations may be confirmed through the Richmond Registrar’s Office [[link removed]] . Residents registered to vote in the City of Richmond may vote at any of the following locations during this next phase of the early voting period (now through June 14):
* City Hall (900 East Broad Street, Richmond)
* Hickory Hill Community Center (3000 East Belt Boulevard, Richmond)
Chesterfield County Early Voting
Early in-person voting is available at Central Library (7051 Lucy Corr Blvd) from 9:00am until 5:00pm, Monday through Friday, until June 13. Saturday voting is available on June 14 from 9:00am until 5:00pm.
In Chesterfield, early voting is not available at the Chesterfield Registrar’s Office. No other in-person early voting locations besides Central Library will be available for the Primary Election for Chesterfield County voters.
Additional information is available through the Virginia Department of Elections [[link removed]] .
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Commissions
This past Thursday, I attended the second 2025 meeting of the Disability Commission on which I serve. Commission members received multiple presentations including an overview from the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) [[link removed]] on the continued federal uncertainty surrounding Congress’ budget bill and its potential impact on the roughly 1.9 million Virginians who receive Medicaid coverage, as well as the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). We also received presentations from the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) regarding Medicaid waiver waitlists [[link removed]] , the Department of Conservation and Recreation on accessibility features at Virginia State Parks [[link removed]] , and the Department of Education on changes to Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and its dispute process [[link removed]] . Our next meeting will continue to examine federal impacts on Virginians with disabilities and report on the Commission's 2025 Work Plan.
Select Community Engagements
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Last Monday, the Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus held the first of a series of community conversations about the impacts of federal actions on Virginia. Even as chaos and cruelty come out of Washington, Virginia Senate Democrats are focusing on delivering results for working Virginians and their families, prioritizing affordable healthcare, fully funding public education, and protecting Virginians from discrimination.
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On Tuesday, my Chief of Staff toured a KinderCare facility in Senate District 15. Child care accessibility and affordability continue to be challenges in communities across Virginia. During the 2026 session, we will focus again on efforts to increase investments in early childhood education and childcare services for working families.
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On Wednesday, I joined the Arlington Democrats for its monthly meeting. As our communities in Northern Virginia continue to face the fallout of Trump’s irresponsible policies, particularly with the mass layoffs of our federal workforce, Virginians are looking for strong leadership that will advocate for them and stand up to the chaos coming out of Trump’s Washington.
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On Thursday evening, my Chief of Staff joined local Muslim faith, nonprofit, and business leaders for a meet and greet hosted by the Virginia Muslim Civic League (VMCL). VMCL presented the findings of a survey that showed that community members are increasingly concerned about First Amendment protections, critical services such as Medicaid, access to affordable housing, and language access in state agencies.
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On Friday morning, I joined nearly a thousand members of Richmond-area Muslims for Eid al-Adha prayers at the large convention hall of the Richmond Raceway. The prayer service was sponsored by the Islamic Center of Virginia (ICVA), the oldest mosque in Richmond, located in Bon Air. Many other mosque communities held concurrent prayers throughout Central Virginia and the Commonwealth.
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Saturday was the start of a busy weekend. Early that morning, I traveled to meet the Norfolk Democrats for their monthly breakfast to share my vision for Virginia as our next Lieutenant Governor. Democrats are ready to elect strong leadership at the executive-level and to expand our Democratic majority in the House of Delegates.
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After leaving Norfolk, I traveled to meet the New Kent County Democratic Committee to hear about their priorities as we approach critical state elections. Residents are particularly concerned about how state leadership will address cuts to critical programs and the federal workforce by Trump and Republicans. In the upcoming primary and in November, we must elect a strong executive team that is ready to fight for Virginians and our families.
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The day concluded with a meet and greet in Chesterfield surrounded by friends and supporters. With just over a week left before Election Day, voters are ready to nominate strong candidates to the Democratic ticket and make history by electing the first South Asian to statewide office.
Connecting With My Office
My office can be reached at the following:
Email: [email protected] [gmail.com]
Phone: 804.698.7515
If you were forwarded this email, you can sign up to receive my office’s weekly newsletter here [[link removed]] .
— Ghazala
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