The Virginian-Pilot
©
RICHMOND
Advocates who lobbied Gov. Bob McDonnell for state dollars to lessen the impact of budget cuts on Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters apparently were persuasive.
Among the amendments McDonnell will propose to Virginia's budget is one that restores $1.8 million in state funding to the Norfolk pediatric hospital.
The two-year spending plan approved by the General Assembly last month contained hundreds of millions in cuts to health and human service programs, including reductions to Medicaid reimbursement payments.
Officials have said that action would have hit CHKD particularly hard because more than half of its patient visits are paid for by Medicaid, a higher proportion than at other state hospitals.
The restored funding also will enable the hospital to receive federal Medicaid matching dollars. Between those two sources, CHKD should have funding officials feared would be lost during the biennial budget cycle that begins July 1.
"The Children's Hospital does amazing work for Virginia children in desperate need of medical care," the governor said in a statement that alluded to his familiarity with the facility as a former Virginia Beach resident. "So many families and children have been touched by the life-saving work done on a daily basis by the medical professionals at the Children's Hospital."
Among those who lobbied for the funds to be restored was state Sen. Ralph Northam, a Norfolk Democrat and pediatric neurologist who admits patients to CHKD.
"I'm very grateful to the governor that he's listened to us and is helping us," Northam said Friday.
Also making the case for restored funding was Del. Chris Jones, R-Suffolk, who said McDonnell's decision recognizes "the uniqueness of CHKD and the impact the cuts would have on them and their ability to provide services."
In a statement that acknowledged Jones and Northam, CHKD President and CEO Jim Dahling expressed appreciation for McDonnell's awareness of "how important these funds are to the health of Virginia's children."
The proposed CHKD budget amendment is the first that has been announced by the governor's office.
McDonnell is expected to send down all his budget amendments and vetoes by Tuesday.
The General Assembly is scheduled to consider his actions when it reconvenes April 21.
Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com
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To mapatty
When I said stupid I was referring to your rantings about a proclamation that many Virginians are proud of. I do not care for black history month which tries to make us feel guilty for slavery although we never had anything to do with that practice. If you do not like the Confederacy then ignore the proclamation and go on complaining about something that really has no impact on the operation of our government. The governor is doing a great job, a lot better than the two losers before him and I am confident he will get us through our tough times.
What do you mean?????
Governor Warner overtaxed us to the tune of $500,000,000 which Kaine inherited as a "surplus" and he in turn blew it! What's so bad about that? Warner only took in Five hundred million dollars more that was budgeted! Why should it be returned to the tax payers? Kaine...well he gets a free pass...it's not his fault he was distracted by his more important role as chairman of the DNC!
George Bush siad,
Brownie was doing a heck of a good job to. We see what a lie that was.
some liberals taint all democrats with constant negativism
Governor McDonnell does something positive to correct an oversight that happened during the legislation session. The legislators said they intended to have CHKD funded, but in the rush to finish, the language was left out and now the Governor and legislators have a chance to correct the original ommission by mistake.
For those liberals who call for action from the Tea Party (actually that is partIES) are just proving they don't understand the drive of those involved in the Tea Party movement. The drive is not that we don't care about funding of medical care, even if it is done by the use of tax payer money. The drive is that we don't want anymore increased government control and taxes. Obamacare forces anyone who chooses not to have insurance to buy a policy, Obamacare allocates funds to the IRS to monitor our purchases of health insurance (some say that is about 16,000 new agents), and Obamacare doesn't offer FREE medical care but many "think" it does because the pushers of the bill didn't say it doesn't.
Your tax return.
If you don't purchase your own health-care you will be penalized. The health-care industry will have to send the IRS documentation to prove that you had coverage for that particular tax year. If you don't have it the IRS will punish you by means of taking/reducing your tax refund. VOILA! Uhbamacare!
Good Move....but what will the Tea Party say?
What will the Tea-Party-Sean-Hannity types say?..."What???!!!...That money could have gone towards cutting some wealthy person's taxes! Governor McDonnel is a marxist! Reload! Socialism! Whatever happened to freedom lovin' Americans! the Constitution has been shredded up! The world is coming to an end! blah...blah...blah."
They will say...
...at least this will actually help people NOW and not 4 years down the road. We will say that at least this won't put us TRILLIONS of dollars in further deficit. We will say these doctor/surgeons/nurses actually perform unselfish acts of benevolence to help these children. We will say rich people own/operate companies that employ people. We will say that the Virginia Constitution was not put aside and forgotten. We will remind you that you people elected people like Phil Hare and many others just like him. Just go to youtube and search for Phil Hare doesn't care. We will say Uhbama is the worst thing that ever happened to America. Oh, and while you think of a response why don't you turn off the Olberman and Maddow programs you TIVO'd...
listen and get to know
I feel that your views that no conservative is able to do any good is due to your lack of social interaction with anyone except those who agree with your political positions.
Try having conversations over lunch or dinner in a public setting (helps reduce the screaming rants of either side when either is offended) AND try to play "their" side without being sarcastic and programming to fail. And do it more than once of twice and definitely not with a family member.
You will not be "converted", but you will find that there is a difference between opponents and enemies. You will find that winning at all costs is neither a win nor a success for you. You will find that your stereotypical views of anybody conservative will be shattered though.
The Governor did a good thing with CHKD - now find a way to positively praise that.
Thanks, but no thanks for the lecture
Thanks, but no thanks for the lecture. I'll stay in my cave of shouting liberals. If only everyone were as "fair and balanced" as you....
Cathy Mid-rift
Hey Julian, saw you and Luzzato on What Matters with Cathy Lewis last night. Lookin' good my brothers! The camera likes you.