health care

News

Senate passes deal to reopen government, but hurdles remain for health care funding

By The Associated Press
Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of N.Y., speaks with reporters at the Capitol Subway on the 36th day of the government shutdown, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

A legislative package to end the government shutdown appears on track Monday after a handful of Senate Democrats joined with Republicans to break the impasse in what has become a deepening disruption of federal programs and services, the longest in history.

What's in and out of the bipartisan deal drew sharp criticism and leaves few senators fully satisfied. The legislation provides funding to reopen the government, including for SNAP food aid and other programs, while also ensuring backpay for furloughed federal workers the Trump administration had left in doubt.

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Beyer, Herring, Ebbin launch speaking tour to combat billions in threatened federal health care cuts

By James Cullum
U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-8th) at the ribbon cutting for Metro's Integrated Command and Communications Center in Alexandria's Carlyle neighborhood, Oct. 27, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Facing billions in federal health care cuts in Virginia, Alexandria Congressman Don Beyer (D-8) is joining Virginia House Majority Leader Charniele Herring (D-4) and State Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-39) next week for three in-person panel discussions across Virginia.

The $715 billion in federal health care cuts would impact Medicaid and Planned Parenthood. The trio of Northern Virginia legislators will hold their first panel at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, June 2, at the Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library (5005 Duke St, Alexandria). The trio will then conduct similar panels later in the day in Norfolk and Richmond.

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Congressman Beyer warns of devastating impact of Medicaid cuts

By Ryan Belmore and James Cullum
U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (center) hosting a roundtable discussion on the potential impact of Medicaid cuts, from his Old Town office, along with Del. Mark Sickles (D-17), on left, with Colleen Leners, the regional director of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Freddy Mejia, a policy director at The Commonwealth Institute and Mary Lee Ruby, March 7, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Congressman Don Beyer (D-8th) is sounding the alarm about proposed Medicaid cuts that could have devastating consequences for hundreds of thousands of Virginians who rely on the program for healthcare.

Beyer hosted a roundtable at his Alexandria office Friday with elected leaders, healthcare providers, advocates, and affected Virginians to discuss the potential impact of nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts proposed in a budget resolution passed by House Republicans last week.

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Alexandria ranks higher than average in Virginia for STIs and rates are still swelling

By Vernon Miles
Couple on a date at a restaurant (Photo by René Ranisch on Unsplash)

Add a new ranking to Alexandria’s accolades: it ranks significantly higher than average in Virginia and Northern Virginia specifically for gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

The increase reflects a national trend of STI cases climbing in recent years, but the Alexandria Health Department (AHD) said the City ranks above the state and regional average in gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis cases.

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News

Ribbon cutting in Alexandria Thursday for Inova Health Center – Oakville

By James Cullum
Proposed Inova facility in the Oakville Triangle (image via City of Alexandria)

After nearly three years of construction, Inova Health Center — Oakville will be unveiled in a ribbon cutting on Thursday (Oct. 31).

The $300 million Oakville Triangle project at the corner of Swann Avenue and Richmond Highway includes more than 1 million square feet of residential space dedicated to apartments and townhomes, the new 93,000-square-foot health center (400 Fannon Street) with a comprehensive emergency room and 55,000 square feet of retail.

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Assessment reveals Alexandrians visit dentists less often than rest of NoVa (and other healthcare disparities)

By Vernon Miles
Alexandria Health Department (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

On average, an Old Town resident could make it into their late 80s. Just a few blocks north, residents in the Braddock neighborhood would be lucky to make it out of their 70s (page 8).

As Alexandria gears up for a new Community Health Assessment — the first since the Covid pandemic — Mayor Justin Wilson highlighted the findings of the 2019 report in a newsletter.

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Alexandria’s Campagna Center hosting back-to-school health fair for young children

By Vernon Miles
The Campagna Center (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

Alexandria childcare nonprofit The Campagna Center coming together with a few partners to host a back-to-school health fair to help families in need.

The fair aims to help preschool-age children from families at 100-200% of the federal poverty level. The health fair will run from Wednesday, Aug. 14 through Friday, Aug. 16 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Campagna Center headquarters (418 S. Washington Street).

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New report tracks Sex ed and the City of Alexandria

By Vernon Miles
Teen pregnancy rates in Alexandria (image via City of Alexandria/Virginia Department of Health)

With teen pregnancy rates on the rise in Alexandria’s Hispanic community, we couldn’t help but wonder: what is the city doing to address teen pregnancy trends?

The City of Alexandria just released its annual Report Card on Sex Ed for All — providing an update on the Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy (ACAP) and other programs that aim to ensure “young people have complete and culturally appropriate sexual health information at age-appropriate levels and access to sexual and reproductive health care services.”

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City Council to consider allowing private non-emergency ambulance service in Alexandria

By James Cullum
Alexandria City Hall sign (staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

A new ambulance service is likely heading to Alexandria, though it won’t be able to respond to medical emergencies in the city.

City Council will consider a resolution tomorrow on allowing RIDE24 LLC, a new private ambulance service located at 2121 Eisenhower Avenue, to provide non-emergency related services within Alexandria.

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City Manager discusses successes and setbacks in ensuring abortion access in Alexandria

By Vernon Miles
Pro and anti-abortion activists at Alexandria City Hall, June 28, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

At a City Council meeting earlier this week, Alexandria City Manager Jim Parajon said the city has seen some advances but also some hurdles in its efforts to make abortion and other women’s health services accessible.

Two years ago, Alexandria’s City Council adopted a resolution asking the City Manager to consider proposals ensuring “accessibility of reproductive health services, safe abortion services, accessible maternal and child health services for low-income Alexandria residents.”

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