By Artis Gordon

The Virginia Hospital Association’s legislative priorities include medical assistance and health coverage for uninsured children, said Katherine Webb, a lobbyist for the group.

During the last election cycle, the association’s political action committee donated $146,361 to 103 members of the General Assembly. The group almost equally to both parties:

• $71,593 went to 49 Democrats.
• $74,268 went to 53 Republicans.
• $500 went to Independent Delegate Lacey Putney of Bedford.

• Sen. Richard Saslaw, D-Fairfax – $5,500.
• Delegate Anne "Panny" Rhodes, R-Richmond – $5,219.
• Delegate C. Richard Cranwell, D-Vinton – $5,000.
• Sen. R. Edward Houck, D-Spotsylvania – $5,000.

Saslaw is the chief patron for various bills involving health insurance and medical assistance. He is the co-patron for the Senate bill on health insurance credits for retired state employees and teachers.

Rhodes is the co-patron of the bill to help people who are HIV-positive with insurance premiums. She also is sponsoring legislation to protect the health, safety, welfare and rights of residents of adult care residences.

Rhodes is also a patron of a resolution that commends the initiatives and duties of the Virginia Health Care Foundation. The foundation’s goal is to increase access to primary care for the uninsured and medically underserved.

The foundation recently gave $1 million to Project Connect, a plan that would enroll 17,000 children from 46 localities in the new Children’s Medical Security Insurance Program.