Del. Gooditis prioritizes health care access, support for farmers in budget requests

On Jan. 14, Delegate Wendy Gooditis (D-10) filed her amendments to the Virginia state budget with the Virginia House Appropriations Committee. Her budget package covers an array of issues from healthcare to farmland preservation based on feedback she has received from her constituents. The Appropriations Committee will consider all requested amendments in the coming weeks before the House of Delegates votes on the amended budget.

Her first package of funding requests to bolster healthcare access in the region. If passed, these amendments would increase funding for Winchester Medical Center.

One amendment would allow the hospital to add beds and staff to care for patients experiencing mental health crises. The severe shortage of psychiatric beds in Virginia continues to limit patient access to timely care, and places unnecessary strain on patients and their families. Another amendment would set aside funds for Winchester Medical Center to serve low-income patients with dentistry, primary care, behavioral health, lab and radiology needs. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us just how critical access to timely and quality healthcare can be. My amendments would help meet the need for care in our region, which we know is great, especially for mental healthcare. Timely access to care can be lifesaving, and families in our region deserve that access,” said Gooditis. 

Another of Gooditis’ amendments seeks to protect farmland in the Commonwealth. If passed, this amendment would set aside $10 million over the course of two years for Virginia’s Farmland Preservation Fund. This fund is critical for protecting one of Virginia’s most important, and yet most vulnerable, economic engines. Agriculture is Virginia’s largest industry, creates more than 334,300 jobs, and puts food on Virginians’ tables, yet the Commonwealth has lost more than 5 million acres of farmland over the last 60 years. 

“Virginia continues to lose farmland at an alarming rate. Without farms, farmers can’t produce. Without farmers, we can’t eat. We must support the farmers and the farms that support all of us, and that is why I am proud to have submitted a $10 million amendment to the Governor’s budget that would do just that,” Gooditis said. 

Gooditis also submitted a budget amendment that would allow parents and spouses to be the paid caregiver of their child or spouse with a developmental disability. This was a flexibility that had been allowed for patients with Medicaid for a short period because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Delegate’s amendment seeks to make the change permanent. 

“I heard loud and clear from constituents that the ability of parents to stay home and be the paid caregiver to their child with a disability is life changing. It is a stabilizing flexibility for families, both financially and for the health of the child. This amendment would allow this flexibility to continue. And, it would also help alleviate some of the pressure on families to find non-relative caregivers, as there is a major workforce shortage in this area,” said Gooditis.

On Jan. 14, Delegate Wendy Gooditis (D-10) filed her amendments to the Virginia state budget with the Virginia House Appropriations Committee. Her budget package covers an array of issues from healthcare to farmland preservation based on feedback she has received from her constituents. The Appropriations Committee will consider all requested amendments in the coming weeks before the House of Delegates votes on the amended budget.

Her first package of funding requests to bolster healthcare access in the region. If passed, these amendments would increase funding for Winchester Medical Center.

One amendment would allow the hospital to add beds and staff to care for patients experiencing mental health crises. The severe shortage of psychiatric beds in Virginia continues to limit patient access to timely care, and places unnecessary strain on patients and their families. Another amendment would set aside funds for Winchester Medical Center to serve low-income patients with dentistry, primary care, behavioral health, lab and radiology needs. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us just how critical access to timely and quality healthcare can be. My amendments would help meet the need for care in our region, which we know is great, especially for mental healthcare. Timely access to care can be lifesaving, and families in our region deserve that access,” said Gooditis. 

Another of Gooditis’ amendments seeks to protect farmland in the Commonwealth. If passed, this amendment would set aside $10 million over the course of two years for Virginia’s Farmland Preservation Fund. This fund is critical for protecting one of Virginia’s most important, and yet most vulnerable, economic engines. Agriculture is Virginia’s largest industry, creates more than 334,300 jobs, and puts food on Virginians’ tables, yet the Commonwealth has lost more than 5 million acres of farmland over the last 60 years. 

“Virginia continues to lose farmland at an alarming rate. Without farms, farmers can’t produce. Without farmers, we can’t eat. We must support the farmers and the farms that support all of us, and that is why I am proud to have submitted a $10 million amendment to the Governor’s budget that would do just that,” Gooditis said. 

Gooditis also submitted a budget amendment that would allow parents and spouses to be the paid caregiver of their child or spouse with a developmental disability. This was a flexibility that had been allowed for patients with Medicaid for a short period because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Delegate’s amendment seeks to make the change permanent. 

“I heard loud and clear from constituents that the ability of parents to stay home and be the paid caregiver to their child with a disability is life changing. It is a stabilizing flexibility for families, both financially and for the health of the child. This amendment would allow this flexibility to continue. And, it would also help alleviate some of the pressure on families to find non-relative caregivers, as there is a major workforce shortage in this area,” said Gooditis.

She also submitted several other budget amendments, including an amendment to fund a new terminal at Winchester Airport, and one to fully fund Soil and Water Conservation District employees across the Commonwealth, who provide technical assistance and support to farmers and help preserve Virginia’s natural resources.

Comments

Any name-calling and profanity will be taken off. The webmaster reserves the right to remove any offensive posts.