State Sen. Barbara Favola (D) is stepping into a new role as chair of the Senate Education and Health Committee on the other side of a recent battle with cancer.
When the Virginia General Assembly convenes in January, Favola, who announced in May that she had been diagnosed with uterine cancer, will be only two months removed from the end of chemotherapy treatments.
“I’m really feeling much better, feeling like I’m getting my energy back,” the 70-year-old, who represents the majority of Arlington County, told ARLnow. “I’m waking up more alert in the morning … I’m feeling much better and closer to my normal capability.”
Favola has a background in the medical field, having served as a policy advisor at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and on Virginia’s state health board. But she said her recent personal experiences with the health-care system have strengthened her perspective as a lawmaker.
A longtime advocate for improving the cost and accessibility of health-care services, Favola has her eye on molding what she calls a more approachable care system for all Virginians.
“We need to set up a system that enables individuals to make wise choices when it comes to accessing healthcare,” Favola said. “Individuals should have access to preventive care for these screenings at no cost and no co-pay.”
She added that she believes there should be no provider barriers to these kinds of tests.
“And then once a person is diagnosed,” she said, “I think we need to be supportive of that person while they’re going through the treatment and actually have health-care services that are affordable.”
Among Favola’s top priorities is bolstering mobile health services, which the Virginia Task Force on Primary Care recommended as a way to improve access to medical care. She hopes to roll out mobile health clinics on a regular basis, offering preventative care at schools and other community hubs.
“I want to fully fund it,” Favola said. “These are going to be services that people absolutely need, and we know they’re underserved. What people don’t understand is, if you remove preventive health services, you’re removing a component of health care that has kept affordability in check.”
But Favola knows that Democratic lawmakers won’t be able to do everything, especially as party lawmakers look to counter initiatives set forth by the Trump administration. She emphasized federal hits to the Affordable Care Act, specifically the current lack of an extension on enhanced premium tax credits.
“I don’t know why this country is so reluctant to help people buy health insurance,” Favola said. “If you’re looking at life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, you can’t have a good life if you’re sick. You can’t pursue happiness if you’re in medical debt.”
The senator added that she hopes to make up for rollbacks to Medicaid funding. Over three years, countering the federal cuts will carry an estimated price tag of at least $3 billion, she said.
“We are not going to be able to make up the difference in all areas, but we’re going to prioritize,” she said. “We have evidence and we know what keeps Virginians healthy.”
The legislative session is scheduled to begin Jan. 14.
