A committee advising Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) on issues surrounding health reform concludes that health-care delivery in Virginia is currently only "mediocre" and lags behind other states with much lower income levels.
The committee, chaired by Secretary of Health and Human Resources William A. Hazel Jr., says in a final report submitted to McDonnell on Tuesday that the state has plenty of good hospitals and doctors. But it notes that only 37 percent of small businesses offer employees health insurance -- down from 48 percent a decade ago. The commonwealth ranks 41 among the states in breast cancer death rates and 35th in infant mortality.
"It is hard to be proud of a system in which nearly one million Virginians -- and 150,000 children -- lack health insurance and timely access to quality care that only it can ensure," concludes the report of the committee, which was composed of 24 political, medical and business leaders.
Among the recommendations of the committee was creating an in-state Health Benefits Exchange and using electronic medical records. So, while Virginia's health care system is failing, its Attorney General is using his position as the Commonwealth's top law enforcement official to drive a fringe political agenda. It would be nice if Mr. Cuccinelli was truly concerned about his constituents who aren't so well off and cannot afford health insurance. These people are dieing of breast cancer and living on a hope that they don't get sick. I'm sure they'd rather see Mr. Cuccinelli channel his energies towards something that will actually benefit the people of the Commonwealth.
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