Healthcare Town Hall: Exposing the Costs of the BBB

The meeting room at Twin Hickory Library was packed on 9/6/25 for Democracy Circle RVA’s town hall, Virginia Healthcare Under Attack: Exposing the Costs of Rob Wittman’s Vote for the “Big Beautiful Bill.” The event’s goal was to expose how the shifting public health landscape in America will affect everyone.

The host discussed how the Trump administration is in the process of dismantling the country’s public health infrastructure. She spoke about the general impact of the “destructive” BBB on people like nursing home residents and rural patients with intensive medical needs, all of whom will suffer from slashed services.

Two experts on state and federal public health policy gave presentations. Tracy Roof, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Richmond, presented information about the recent federal public health policy shifts and how those shifts will affect Virginia and put healthcare in the state at risk.

Medicaid will have new eligibility barriers and people will lose coverage. Roof also distinguished between direct effects, such as the pending trillion-dollar cut in health spending over the next decade and secondary effects, e.g., the cost shifting that will lead to higher premiums for those with employer-based health insurance.

The federal threat to public health

Ben Barber, MPP is the Policy Director of Virginia Health Catalyst. Regarding HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Barber said, “I don’t think this is news to anyone, but we’ve got a problem.”

After highlighting America’s public health achievements, he discussed issues such as misinformation from HHS, mass layoffs in public health agencies (e.g., FDA, NIH, CDC), and the shredding of the public health safety net (e.g., loss of community clinics and wellness programs). Uncertainty at the federal level has also disrupted COVID-19 vaccine access.

Barber stressed that Medicaid is not just health insurance, but also a public health program. Cuts to Medicaid equal cuts to public health services in general.

A community conversation followed. Some attendees shared compelling personal stories about their efforts in the medical field as they educated patients about diseases and vaccines. Others discussed their advocacy efforts regarding public health issues.

The main takeaway: Democracy Circle RVA and its allies hope to put Virginia in a safer public health position through advocacy and engaging with our communities.

This event was a multi-organization collaboration that included the chairs of the Henrico Democratic Committee and Goochland County Democrats, RVA Indivisible, and Neighbors For Change. Also spotted at the event: Senator Schuyler Van Valkenburg (D SD16) and VA1 Congressional Democratic primary candidate Ericka Kopp.

Neighbors For Change appreciated the opportunity to work with Democracy Circle RVA on this event and were happy to promote attendance and meet new neighbors. Events like this reinforce the importance of registering to vote for candidates like May Nivar so Virginians have better public health advocates at the state and federal levels.