Watch this, America. A state may be about to do something sensible, bipartisan and even humanitarian to take care of its people.
It could still fall apart, as it has before. But Virginia’s lawmakers appear to be on the verge of insuring about 400,000 low-income residents by expanding Medicaid after years of refusing to do so.
Remember, Virginia is a place where thousands of people queue up before dawn on one weekend every summer to get free treatment from volunteers who turn livestock pens into medical crash units at the Wise County Fairgrounds because people are so desperate for care.
It’s a scene I visited four years ago when the Remote Area Medical clinic was the only hope for folks with bleeding gums, black lungs, oxygen tanks and broken backs to get treatment.
The rural county still hosts this clinic every year, and what unfolds looks like refugee camps in war-ravaged countries. At midnight before the clinic opened that year, 1,204 people were already in line. And it wouldn’t have been necessary if the commonwealth had expanded access to the federal health-care program for the poor.
Last year, my brother, an EMT, volunteered his time with the Remote Area Medical Clinic program. He went down to Richmond County, to give back to the community where he grew up. He felt a tremendous amount of empathy for those people, who lined up before daylight to get medical treatment. Some slept overnight in their cars. Some camped out. I believe he was surprised to see just how much this community needed the services that were provided.
400,000 is a lot of people to be without medical plans. Nearly 8.5 million people live in Virginia. That’s just under 5% of the people in Virginia without any medical care plan. That’s just too damn many.
Hopefully Virginia will do the right thing and pass legislation to extend medicaid so that these 400,000 people of all ages can begin to start having decent medical treatment. To do otherwise is simply immoral.
This was a very rewarding event. I was surprised to witness firsthand the number of people who were desperate to receive basic medical coverage. The days were long, lasting from 5:15 AM until around 5:00 PM in the afternoon. You are so busy and want to attend to people as compassionately as possible because you can see the need in their faces. As a volunteer EMT in NOVA, I often see people on the worst day of their life at the worst moment. This was quite different. I witnessed people who had jobs that were very proud yet did not have the means to acquire basic medical or dental coverage often due to no fault of their own. For many it was a choice, eat or receive basic medical or dental coverage and it was clear the choice made by many families.
There were no questions asked regarding need. It was assumed that you are there and we would address your needs the best way possible and suggested some individuals come back the following day for continued coverage. I have never seen more teeth extracted in two days. Dental disease was rampant, high blood pressure was unchecked and diabetes was crippling individuals.
Medical professionals and students from up and down the east coast arrived and provided assistance to the residents of this rural isolated community. I witnessed some amazing professionals providing remarkable care to the masses in a none hospital setting.
I challenge anyone with a desire to assist to those in need to sign up for one of these events. You will witness people who are quite proud but in need of basic medical coverage. You do not have to be a medical professional to assist. There is an entire army of people who sign up individuals, escort patients and provide general help. I plan on doing another event in the next several months.
Thank you Tucker, for you service and for your comments and passion for this project!!!
When is the Emporia RAM?
I can only hope Virginia will do the right thing.
Jun 23 – Jun 24 all-day
The patient parking lot will open no later midnight. Numbered patient admission tickets will be given out beginning at 3 AM, one ticket per patient. Clinic doors will open at 6 AM. Patients will be admitted in numerical order by ticket # and a ticket is required for admission. Dental, vision, and medical services are provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. Due to time constraints, be prepared to choose between DENTAL and VISION services. Medical services are offered to every patient attending the clinic. This event is free and open to the public.
https://www.ramusa.org/events/