Affordable Care Act (ACA) vs. Medicaid Expansion

Culpeper Star Exponent

Business Monday

February 17, 2014

Jim Charapich

Affordable Care Act (ACA) vs. Medicaid Expansion. In some circles the two are one issue. In others, there is good reason to see them as separate issues. The ACA, as with many innovations, is certainly a disruption to the status quo. There is no doubt that Americans are seeing a shift in the way we access health care.

The impact of the 30 hour work week threshold has yet to be fully seen. In addition, the impact of access to affordable healthcare has the potential to disrupt the way that workers see employment. Businesses have had the luxury of retaining employees through the golden handcuffs of access to healthcare. Now, with the limits on exclusions due to preexisting conditions, employees may be less likely to stay in employment environments for the purpose of sustaining access to healthcare. Employers will need to reevaluate their compensation packages with these dynamics in mind. In addition, employers will likely need to plan for the unintended consequence of more turnover as the economy improves and unemployment numbers drop. In reconciling the impact of ACA with business operations, it is clear that business will need to adapt to the new law. Hoping for the law to be repealed seems to be a futile use of energy. It is time to learn, adapt, and move forward, while shaping the ACA Law for it's best outcome.

With regard to Medicaid Expansion, there are those that would stand and make statements about increases in their premiums as if they relate primarily to the Medicaid Expansion issue. The increase in premiums is the very reason Medicaid Expansion makes sense. Much of the premium increases are related to ACA Federal taxes imposed on Americans - Businesses and Individuals. In Virginia, we have seen some in the General Assembly call for delaying the Expansion of Medicaid in hopes of more research on reforming Medicaid. There is no doubt that Medicaid needs reform, and most agree that reform is necessary.

However, the real issue is that Virginians are paying the Federal ACA related taxes as of January 1, 2014. According to Lee Kirk, President of the Culpeper Regional Health System, Medicaid Expansion would bring $5,000,000 per day back into Virginia. The impact of not doing this to the Culpeper Regional Health System is approximately $2,000,000 this year. What will the impact of this drop in revenue have on the region? When tourists spend a dollar in Culpeper, an estimate is that the dollar circulates 5 times, meaning $1 equals $5. So what happens when $2,000,000 of revenue disappears? Even at a two times impact, would that be a $4,000,000 impact in our local economy? To put this in context, the ever growing Town budget is now around $15,000,000.

The Virginia Chamber and a significant number of chambers across the Commonwealth have called for support of Medicaid Expansion with concurrent reform in order to recover the $5,000,000 per day back to Virginians. What would this $5,000,000 be used for? Access to healthcare for the workers that cannot access healthcare through Medicaid currently. Some of these are the front line workers that serve us every day. These are the retail clerks, restaurant workers, and other direct labor professionals that are unable to afford preventative health coverage. Their option today relegates them to wait for crisis healthcare in an emergency room shifting the cost to the rest that pay for this in their current premiums.

The Chambers of Commerce and other Professional Business Organizations have requested the General Assembly move forward on Medicaid Expansion with concurrent reform. The need for action is now. The wait and see discussion is costing Virginia and our local economy every day. Will other States that have chosen to access Federal tax dollars to upgrade and improve their workforce through Medicaid Expansion have a strategic advantage over Virginia? Will this challenge our Commonwealth status as “The Best State to do Business”? If progress on this issue hinges on “trust in the Federal Government” then we have larger problems than this issue. Today, Virginia has an opportunity to upgrade our workforce by delivering a healthy, ready to go workforce for employers. It is time to bring Virginia dollars back to Virginia and put them to work in order to grow our economy. Our success in the global marketplace will depend on the quality of our workforce.

What's Coming Up at Your Culpeper Chamber of Commerce

Culpeper Star Exponent

Business Monday

February 10, 2014

Jim Charapich

What is new at the Chamber this month? The pace is picking up with several events and a lot of planning. I am reminded of how calm a duck looks almost gliding over the water at Mountain Run Lake while underneath the fish view would be the webbed feet moving with power and speed. We are in the process of revising our logo and I am tempted to use a duck as a logo for this very reason… However, there is no way that this would happen..

This Thursday February 13th is the Regional Professional Development Conference - a collaboration of the Chambers of Commerce in the Region, The Small Business Development Center, The Northern Piedmont Community Foundation, and four generous sponsors. The event will bring some of the latest in Digital Business Best Practices combined with the Renewed Ancient skill of Storytelling. There is nowhere on earth that these two arts will intersect better than right here in Culpeper at the Germanna’s Daniel Technology Center. There is something for every small business and non-profit organization. Take this day to network and upgrade your knowledge in a powerful way to set a more profitable course for 2014 and beyond.

Go to www.ProfessionalDevelopmentConference.com to register and follow the hash tag #ChamberPDC for the latest information via Twitter.

Next we are planning our “State of the Community” luncheon for March 7th held at Germanna’s Daniel Technology Center. The luncheon offers the business community an opportunity to hear from leaders for 2-5 minutes regarding the highlights of their area of influence in Culpeper. The roster changes from year to year with emphasis on areas of unique and emerging interest. Our hope is to provide the business community a snapshot of our community as a building block in growing their business.

Our roster so far this year is outstanding:  Town of Culpeper - Dewey Cashwell, Culpeper County - Steve Nixon, Culpeper Hospital - TBD, State Theatre - Rob Wilson, Culpeper County Public School - Dr. Johnson, Retail -  Kelsey Carlson, Hospitality - TBD, Major Industry - John Marshall - Bingham & Taylor, Northern Piedmont Community Foundation - Cole Johnson, Fire & Rescue - Anthony Clatterbuck, Young Professionals - Jon Krawchuk, Aging Together - Chris Miller, Culpeper Arts Council - Gary Close, & Workforce - Rod Gentry - Union First Market Bank - Piedmont Workforce Network. Go to www.CulpeperChamber.com to register. This is a perfect opportunity to bring associates from out of town that are interested in Culpeper to gain quick access to the latest in the community.

Stay tuned to all of the Chamber activities at www.CulpeperChamber.com and go to the Chamber Calendar for updates or to subscribe to the our reminders for updates.

Historic vote on May 6th, 2014 in the Town of Culpeper

Culpeper Star Exponent

Business Monday

February 3, 2014

Jim Charapich

Historic vote on May 6th, 2014 in the Town of Culpeper. We will no longer have May elections for the Culpeper Town Council. This is an Historic opportunity to take part in a May vote. Candidates are out getting signatures to be on the ballot for the final May election campaign. There are 4 at large seats up for election plus the Mayor. In all there are 5 seats up for election. Historically there is a low voter turnout for a May election at about 10%. In the future the Town Council elections will coincide with November elections in hopes of higher voter participation.

The Culpeper Chamber will host a Candidates Forum Breakfast on April 9th to meet the candidates and gain an understanding of their position on the issues. The Chamber is in the process of researching the issues in order to develop the best questions for the candidates. The focus of The Chamber questions will relate to our mission: To be the voice of the business community working to promote, build, and support the most effective climate for economic development.

 

Here are a few of the questions asked in the last candidates forum for the Board of Supervisors that may have relevance in the upcoming Town Council Elections:

1)  Economic Development: What new and innovative ideas do you have that haven’t been tried before and why will they work at this place in time and economic climate?

2) Economic Development: The Town and County have separately funded partial economic development agencies, one as a Department of Economic Development, and the other as a Department of Tourism with no publicly known measurements for accountability. What would you do to help create a comprehensive Town & County Economic Development strategy? How would you measure results?

Questions asked in the April 2012 Town Council Candidates Forum:

1) Taxes- Will you support the elimination of BPOL taxes considering that the Boundary Line Adjustment will produce more revenue, including through meals taxes?

2) Governance -  Considering that neighboring governing bodies have adopted ethics policies for elected officials, where do you stand on the ethics policy that the Town Council recently adopted and later retracted? What accountability standards can the taxpayer expect from you?

3) Economic Development How would you resolve blighted properties in light of foreclosure conditions and the need to preserve adjacent property values?  Would you support a property maintenance code?  Why or why not?

The Chamber is seeking input regarding the issues that are important for the upcoming May 6 election. What are the current issues?  

1) Taxes - BPOL is admittedly an unfair tax on the gross receipts of a business - will there finally be solutions proposed about this problem?

2) Taxes The Town budget has grown significantly over the past few years. Will this be an issue?

3) Economic Development The Town has set in motion the attractive relocation of the Museum, with a corresponding Town takeover of the Visitor Center operations -Is the Town run Depot Visitor Center the best ROI when there are an estimated 30,000 people traveling by Culpeper everyday on Route 29 with no Visitor Center on Route 29 to invite travelers into Town - Will this be an issue?

Please forward suggested issues to JimC@CulpeperChamber.com for the Chamber to consider for the April 9th 2014 Culpeper Candidates Town Council Forum. Plan to vote in the historic May 6th, 2014 Culpeper Town Council Elections.