POLICY UPDATE: Medicaid cut rollback efforts, COVID-19 vaccination prescription, federal sex education funding, more blocked public university board nominees  

(Week of Sept. 1-5, 2025)

• VA Hospitals Urge Reconvened Congress to Roll Back Medicaid Cuts

• New COVID-19 Vaccination Rules Prompt VA Pharmacies to Require Prescriptions

• Federal Sex Education Funding Threatened if States Don’t Remove Gender Ideology

• VA Senate Blocks More GMU Board of Visitors Nominees for Potential to Bring “Controversy,” “Division”

MEDICAID: Virginia hospitals, especially those in rural areas, are trying to increase pressure on elected officials to roll back broad Medicaid cuts passed by Congress in July. Without it, the hospitals are predicting higher emergency department volumes, more uncompensated care, higher burnout among already-strained clinical staff, and even potential closure or drastic scaling back of services. Ballad Health, for instance, which serves many rural areas in the state, predicts it could lose $25 million in the first year alone that the reconciliation bill’s hospital funding changes take effect. With Congress now back in session, Democrats say they’re restarting roll back efforts to draconian cuts of President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.” The now-signed law sets new limits on state-directed Medicaid-managed-care payments, phases out provider tax incentives, and does not renew end-of-year cutoff for Affordable Care Act premium tax credit eligibility. Although Virginia could temporarily tap into its budget surplus to help cover the gaps, say health leaders, that approach is not sustainable nor likely politically viable.

HEALTH DISPARITIES: CVS, Walgreens, and other major pharmacies in Virginia have announced that new federal limits mean that people must have a formal doctor’s prescription to receive the new COVID-19 vaccination, even patients with pre-existing, qualified conditions such as depression. People outside of the newly defined recommended groups such as anyone over age 65 may not be covered by insurance, which healthcare providers fear could reduce access of nearly 2 million Virginians on Medicaid since the shots can cost more than $140. COVID rates have been climbing in Virginia—especially in schools and assisted living facilities—to over 4,000 positive COVID cases last week and continue to be a health risk, especially for hospitalization or even death of vulnerable populations.

LGBTQIA2S+: Virginia is one of only four states that did not receive a federal letter demanding removal of all references to gender ideology in their Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) educational materials within 60 days. The letter claims, “Federal funds will not be used to poison the minds of the next generation or advance dangerous ideological agendas. The Trump Administration will ensure that PREP reflects the intent of Congress, not the priorities of the left.” States and territories, including Washington, DC, that received the letters from the Administration for Children and Families must comply or will have federal PREP funding withheld, suspended, or cut.

SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION: A Virginia Senate Committee expanded its blockade of proposed Board of Visitors appointments by Gov. Youngkin to George Mason University and two others, saying they are not qualified and that they bring “controversy” and “division” to school governing bodies. Earlier, the committee rejected former nominee and Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli for his “extreme” position on abortion rights, his advocacy for Project 2025, and his “hateful attacks” on LGBTQIA2S+ Virginians. A lawsuit is underway challenging the right of the committee to stop a governor’s appointees.