The appalling absence of fact-checking in “Dire and Urgent” (Opinion, Mary Kimm, September 8-October 4, 2017) reveals ignorance that should be an embarrassment to a “newspaper” and its reporters. The subtitle alone reveals a lack of knowledge about the subject matter. Even worse, the two United States Senators from Virginia, who were interviewed for the article, demonstrated their own unfamiliarity with the proposed legislation they eagerly condemned. Had they actually read the bill?
In particular, the “Graham-Cassidy” Senate bill retains almost all the Affordable Care Act taxes “on the wealthiest” in order to fund Medicaid reform. Sen. Kaine asks, “Why go after Medicaid?” Do the Senators fail to understand that “Medicaid as we know it” is unsustainable? Where is their cost analysis of that program? In Virginia alone, the precipitous growth of the state’s Medicaid spending is crowding out funding for public safety and infrastructure. State legislative leaders in Richmond recognize that reform is necessary.
The co-called “threats” to quality of coverage listed in Ms. Kimm’s final paragraph are simply untrue and misleading. Read the bill. The perverse rhetoric these two Senators use to obstruct the truth should be challenged by intellectually honest and rational reporters.
Until that happens, their remarks contribute nothing constructive to the important discussion on the truly “dire and urgent” need for healthcare reform. Virginians do know the facts, and do comprehend that exigency.
Nancy Piotter
Fairfax Station
The writer is the Executive Director, Virginians for Quality Healthcare.
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