Issue Position: Health Care

Issue Position

The health care industry is a major employer across the 21st District. As a member of the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions, and a member of the Joint Commission on Health Care, I worked closely with Carilion Clinics and HCA on issues confronting the health care industry. I am the chairman of the Virginia Health Workforce Authority that is looking at ways to encourage more young people to enter the health care field as there are critical shortages in both physicians and in allied health positions. Southwest Virginia is woefully short on critical physician positions and when the Federal Health Care bill fully kicks in 2014, that shortage will be exasperated as 500,000 people are added to the Medicaid roles. I have a deep interest in health policy and I am currently enrolled in the new Master of Public Health program at Virginia Tech.

Source