This week, Virginia Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin made a noticing move by rejecting specific provisions of a state Senate bill aimed at strengthening a federal healthcare program frequently utilized to subsidize healthcare for undocumented immigrants, according to a conservative advocacy group.
Governor Youngkin returned SB119 with revisions, highlighting his concerns and opting for a thorough report on the federal 340B program by November 1 this year. While acknowledging the bill’s general intent, Youngkin chose not to sign it, instead issuing his amendments.
Gov. Youngkin (Credits: Washington Examiner)
One aspect of SB119 sought to enhance the federal 340B program, which permits hospitals to access discounted rates for prescription drugs while being reimbursed by the federal government at standard rates. Some healthcare providers have utilized these savings to offer healthcare services to undocumented immigrants.
Last month, a spokesperson for Governor Youngkin expressed deep apprehension regarding the 340B program’s potential exploitation to furnish taxpayer-funded healthcare to undocumented immigrants.
As a result, Youngkin requested Virginia Health and Human Resources to assemble a work group to examine the intricacies of the 340B program. This initiative garnered praise from the conservative nonprofit Building America’s Future (BAF).
Governor Glenn Youngkin (Credits: The Times of Israel)
BAF senior adviser Katie Miller commended Governor Youngkin for his decision to safeguard Virginians from further financial support for undocumented immigrants’ healthcare by rejecting SB119.
Miller emphasized the exploitation of the 340B program by healthcare providers redirecting funds to cover healthcare expenses for undocumented immigrants, a situation exacerbated by President Biden’s border crisis. Miller hoped other Republican leaders in different states would follow Governor Youngkin’s example and reject what she described as a “340B money laundering scheme.”
