Directions: Part 1: In 500-750 words, address the following: Identify a current health care policy in your community or state (Virginia) Research the issue and determine your personal stance based on

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Introduction:
Healthcare policies play a crucial role in shaping the lives of individuals in society. It is imperative to stay informed about the prevalent healthcare policies in the community or state and develop informed opinions about them. In this assignment, I will identify a current healthcare policy in my community/state and present my personal stance based on the current evidence. Additionally, I will locate the contact information for a state, local, or federal official and compose a letter/email that explains my position and offers suggestions on how the official should move forward with the agenda from my policy brief.

Part 1:
In Virginia, one of the current healthcare policies is related to Medicaid expansion. Virginia opted to expand Medicaid eligibility in 2018, which provided health coverage to around 400,000 additional low-income residents. The expansion extended Medicaid eligibility to people with income up to 138% of the federal poverty level. Virginia’s Medicaid expansion program also includes several benefits, such as substance abuse treatment, mental health benefits, and various pharmacy services.

My personal stance on Medicaid expansion in Virginia is that it is a necessary step to ensure affordable healthcare services to low-income residents who cannot afford healthcare costs. The Medicaid expansion policy is a crucial step towards eliminating the disparities that existed before. The policy aims to expand access to affordable healthcare services, which would eventually lead to healthier individuals and communities.

Part 2:
I attempted to locate the contact information of the State Senator representing my area. The State Senator is Amanda Chase. As per my preliminary research, Amanda Chase is a Republican Senator who is against the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and has publicly criticized Medicaid expansion in Virginia. As per my research, Amanda Chase is against expanding government-funded healthcare programs such as Medicaid, as she believes that such programs create dependencies.

To address the State Senator, I would compose an official email that explains my position about Medicaid expansion and offers suggestions on how the state should move forward with the policy agenda. My letter would emphasize how Medicaid expansion has helped low-income residents access affordable healthcare services, which would lead to healthier lives and communities. Additionally, I would emphasize how Medicaid expansion would address healthcare disparities and reduce healthcare costs for individuals, hospitals, and taxpayers. I would also suggest that the state officials take a balanced approach while addressing the concerns of Medicaid expansion critics and ensure that the policy is equitable and sustainable in the long run.

In conclusion, this assignment has helped me understand the importance of being informed and developing personal opinions about prevalent healthcare policies in society. Additionally, it has helped me realize the significance of communicating my opinions to state officials to contribute towards shaping equitable healthcare policies for the welfare of the community.