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R-14-09 A RESOLUTION BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA SUPPORTING INCREASED HEALTH CARE ACCESS FOR THE UNINSURED AND URGING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO RETURN VIRGINIA TAXPAYERS' DOLLARS TO THE COMMONWEALTH. WHEREAS, a healthy workforce and community are critical to the economic vitality of the Portsmouth community; and WHEREAS, over one million Virginians under the age of 64 are uninsured, many of whom are in families with at least one full- or part-time worker who is not provided health insurance coverage through his or her employer, cannot afford coverage, or does not earn enough to qualify for insurance offered through the health care exchanges; and WHEREAS, these uninsured Virginians receive medical care that is subsidized by employed Virginians through higher insurance premiums, health care providers increasing charges to the insured, and providers underwriting uninsured care; and WHEREAS, this cost-shifting will continue to outpace inflation if the Commonwealth does not ensure that more Virginians have access to affordable health care coverage; and WHEREAS, through 2022, Virginians will send $29.7 billion to Washington, D.C., under mandatory federal Affordable Care Act-related taxes, fees and provider payment cuts; and WHEREAS, the $29.7 billion will be used by the federal government to fund health care in states other than Virginia, solely because those states have expanded their Medicaid programs to include their uninsured citizens; and WHEREAS, the Commonwealth has a financial responsibility to claim the funds generated in Virginia for Virginians and to develop a financially sound plan that will ensure that Virginia's health care delivery system will provide quality services to the citizens of the Commonwealth; and WHEREAS, the Commonwealth has a moral responsibility to assure that the 250,000 uninsured Virginians, including 4,600 uninsured citizens of Portsmouth, who are currently ineligible for Medicaid or for the subsidies for health insurance exchanges under the federal Affordable Care Act, are able to obtain health care coverage through an expansion of the Medicaid program in Virginia. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Council of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia that it hereby supports and urges the Virginia General Assembly to develop and implement in the Commonwealth of Virginia a plan to provide those '/4 million Virginians with access to affordable health care coverage and services.