By skyforbes 
On this day last year, Governor Northam signed legislation that increased access to health care for up to 400,000 Virginians.
One year ago, I was proud to sign a budget that expanded our Medicaid coverage to an additional 400,000 Virginians.
We were able to accomplish this victory thanks to the thousands of Virginians who raised their voices for more than five years in support of Medicaid expansion.
It also took the bipartisan work of legislators from both sides of the aisle, coming together to do what’s right for the people of Virginia.
Since January 1, more than 280,000 Virginians made eligible for Medicaid through expansion have enrolled in the program. This historic response from citizens across our Commonwealth only underscores the need for health coverage that benefits our families, our communities, and our economy.
Virginians send their elected officials to Richmond to work together to make their lives better. As Thomas Jefferson said, “without health, there is no happiness.”
Now, because of this expansion, thousands of Virginians are able to access primary care, preventative care, and behavioral health care that they were not able to receive before — and they are leading better, healthier lives as a result.
As a doctor and a public servant, I believe making sure all Virginians have the access to the care they need to be healthy and productive is both a moral and economic imperative.
The passage of Medicaid expansion is the best reflection of what we can accomplish when we do things the Virginia Way, and Medicaid enrollment represents the important work we doing to build the Commonwealth that we all envision — where every individual and every family has the opportunity to thrive, no matter who they are or where they’re from.