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R-13-02 A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.AND THE GOVERNOR ACCEPT AND IMPLEMENT THE FULL EXPANSION OF MEDICAID AS PROVIDED BY THE FEDERAL PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT OF 2010. WHEREAS, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("Affordable Care Act") is a 2010 federal law which, among other things, expands the availability of health care through an expansion of Medicaid; and WHEREAS, as a result of the United States Supreme Court's decision upholding the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, each state now has the option to chose whether to accept and implement the Act's Medicaid expansion; and WHEREAS, the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion establishes a new income eligibility criterion of 133% of the federal poverty level and provides 100% federal funding for the expansion in the first three years, after which time the federal funding will be reduced to no less than 90% of the cost; and WHEREAS, the projected cost to Virginia is dwarfed by the billions of federal dollars which will flow into the Commonwealth, and Medicaid expansion will not only provide citizens with greater access to health care but will also supportthe state's health care industry, employment, and Virginia's overall economy; and WHEREAS, although 20,368 Portsmouth residents currently receive Medicaid benefits, an estimated 12,120 additional adult City residents who are under the age of 65 remain uninsured; and WHEREAS, an estimated additional 15,000 Portsmouth residents will be eligible for Medicaid expansion under the federal law, including a significant number of single persons and couples with incomes between $15,415 and $20,879, as well as certain families (depending on family size) with incomes up to $53,668; and WHEREAS, a significant number of uninsured Portsmouth residents who suffer from mental health or substanc~abuse disorders will be eligible for health care coverage through Medicaid expansion; and WHEREAS, the expansion of Medicaid will increase local employment in medical services and other supportive health care industries. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia that it hereby requests that the Governor and the General Assembly take the steps necessary to accept and implement in the Commonwealth of Virginia the full Medicaid expansion as provided by the Affordable Care Act.