Northam touts 'excellent' health care in first visit home as governor

Gov. Ralph Northam spoke to enthusiastic crowds at a health care forum at Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital and a gala for supporters at the Onancock school from which he graduated.

The two events on Saturday marked Northam's first official visit to his native Eastern Shore since taking the oath of office in January.

Each event drew well over 100 attendees.

"It's just so great to be back home," Northam said in starting off his remarks at the health care forum.

Northam said the status of health care on the Eastern Shore is "excellent," noting the contributions of both Riverside and Eastern Shore Rural Health.

Looking to the future of health care in Virginia, Northam said, "We have a very unique opportunity with the makeup of the legislature this year to really get a lot of good things."

Peter Lalor, chairman of Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital board of directors, also said health care in the region is "unimaginably good."

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"The present is bright. If we want the future to be bright, we have to recognize that some changes are going to have to be made — that is where Gov. Northam comes in," Lalor said in his introduction of the governor.

"I can't express how happy I am, and how lucky we are, that a physician was elected governor of the state — not just an Eastern Shoreman, but a physician," Lalor said, calling Northam "a man who understands the intricacies of our very complex industry."

Lalor credited the good state of health care on the Shore in part to longstanding cooperation between Riverside and Eastern Shore Rural Health System.

Additionally, he wanted attendees to be aware that Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital, along with its parent organization Riverside Health System, is a not-for-profit operation.

The hospital last year gave $15 million in charity and uncompensated care to uninsured and underinsured Eastern Shore residents, Lalor said.

"I don't think it's something to be proud of, exactly, but it's something to be grateful for," he said, adding, "At the same time, we have to recognize that it sends a signal. ... It should be sending off alarm bells."

Lalor said small, rural hospitals like Shore Memorial "are under enormous financial pressure — they're closing the doors right and left."

Northam spoke about the history of the Affordable Care Act, which became law in 2010.

"Whether you like it or not, it is the law of the land, presently, and there are good things about the Affordable Care Act," he said, citing in particular the end of insurance companies being able to deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions.

Additionally, the ability of parents to keep children on their insurance plan through age 26 is a benefit of the act.

"What a great way to help youngsters get started," Northam said.

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He acknowledged the act could be improved.

"One of the things I regret is what's going on in Washington right now — there is dysfunction — and I just wish that politicians, and even those that aren't in politics, could sit down at the table and talk about what's good about the Affordable Care Act and what we can make better — and do what's in the best interest of this country; but they just cannot seem to get it done," he said.

Northam spoke in favor of Virginia opting to participate in Medicaid expansion.

"When we pay our taxes on April 15, a portion of our tax money goes to Washington to support the Affordable Care Act — and what we are trying to do with Medicaid expansion is bring those resources back to Virginia," he said, noting around 350,000 working Virginians at present do not have access to health care because they cannot afford to pay for health insurance.

"We can do better than that in the richest country in the world. I believe that health care is a right. I believe that every individual should have access to go see a provider," Northam said.

Not having Medicaid expansion puts Virginia at a disadvantage to other states when it comes to attracting businesses, he said.

"Since January of 2014, we have given away over $10 billion," he said, adding, "I say it's time to come to the table. I'm willing to discuss, compromise, whatever you want to say — call it something different — but we need to bring that money back."

In the current budget, $420 million "could stay right here in Virginia to be used in a lot of different areas if we could expand Medicaid," Northam said, citing mental health services and the opioid crisis among others as areas where funding could be used.

He noted 43 percent of rural Virginia hospitals are operating in the red and two closed in recent years, in Patrick and Lee counties.

"What business is going to say, oh, I think that is a good idea, to come to rural Virginia," he said, adding that news of rural hospitals struggling financially also makes it harder to attract physicians.

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Northam said about the two elected state officials who also spoke at the forum — Sen. Lynwood Lewis, a Democrat, and Delegate Rob Bloxom, a Republican — "You've got great representatives in the two. ... We might not agree, but you know the Virginia way is to sit down at the table and do things the Virginia way, agree to disagree — but at the end of the day to do what's in the best interest of the Commonwealth of Virginia."

Gala homecoming

Northam then headed a few miles west to the 97-year-old school, now a community center, from which he graduated in 1977 — where a by-invitation gala was held to honor those who worked for his election.

Joined by his wife, Pam, Northam shook hands and posed for pictures with many of the around 130 supporters in the room — including high school classmates and other acquaintances — before addressing the group.

Malcom White, grandson of renowned Eastern Shore folk artist Mama Girl, presented Northam and the first lady with paper mache American flag pins crafted by his grandmother before Northam spoke.

"What we experienced, I believe, back in 2016 was really a campaign that was based on a lot of hatred and bigotry and discrimination and fear. And people across not only Virginia but across this country stood up and said, this is not the country that I know and love, this is not the Commonwealth of Virginia — and we are not going to accept what we saw in 2016 as the new normal," Northam said.

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"So our job running our campaign and working with folks like ... all of you, was to really connect the dots and make sure that we took that energy to the polls on Election Day — and that's what happened on Nov. 7."

Northam spoke about being back in the school building where he began his education in primary school and later graduated from high school.

"I can't tell you how wonderful it is being back here at the school that I started in and I graduated in, and to see so many friends — I just thank you all. This means so much," he said.

Northam talked about the importance of a good education.

"I can recite the name of every teacher I've had, from kindergarten right through high school ... I wouldn't be standing here if it wasn't for the teachers; if it wasn't for my parents, who guided me; and if it wasn't for the education system," Northam said, adding the he and Pam, an educator, "feel very strongly that there is power in every child, and we need to make sure that all of our children can live the American dream."

Linda Schulz, chairwoman of the Northampton Democratic Committee, said the event's most important purpose was "to recognize and reward the grassroots efforts of our Eastern Shore Democratic volunteers."

"We are delighted we had this opportunity to celebrate the election of our Eastern Shore native son, Ralph Northam, with so many of those whose hard work helped to make his election possible," Schulz said.

Dubbed "Dance the Blue Wave," the event featured Eastern Shore products and companies, including programs printed by Waterford Printing in Exmore; wine from Chatham Vineyards, food by Um Yummies and Pie A La Mode and sponsorships by a number of individuals and companies, including Maureen and Parker Dooley, Martin Freed and Ruta Baskys, Frank and Rose Moore, Willie and Shirley Randall, Paul and Betty Bibbins, Bill Payne, Louisa Flaningham and Paul Brzozowski, Barbara and Steve Johnsen, Ruth Tyler and Art Fournier, Sandra Brandt, Janet and Fletcher Fosque, ADCO, Simply Fresh and the Historic Onancock School.

The gala logo was created by Carol Maurice of Maurice Design in Virginia Beach.

A committee led by co-chairwomen Lisa LaMontagne and Joni Donohoe organized the event.

Committee members included Kathy Boyd, Beth Calder, Laurie Chamberlain, Joann Clark, Maureen and Parker Dooley, Carmen and Marcie Fields, Joanne Fitchett, Al McKegg, Janet and Haydon Rochester, Carla Savage-Wells, Linda Schulz, Bob Toner, Victoria Warren, Cyndi Downing and Debra Wharton. Wharton came up with the idea of holding an inaugural gala at the governor's old school.

Michael Teets provided the music.

Junior ushers from area schools helped at the event, including Jerron Jenkins and Carlton Smith of Northampton High School; Sheridan Wells of Nandua High School; Kylen Wharton of Arcadia High School; and Parker Boggs and Brandon Stubbs of Broadwater Academy.

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