Carroll Foy feels strongly that her pain was dismissed because she's a Black woman. It's a well-documented phenomenon: doctors dismissing the pain of Black patients in general due to racial biases.
Black women are 243% more likely to die in childbirth or from pregnancy-related conditions than white women. She wants to ensure doulas are covered by Medicaid, so low-income black mothers will always have someone advocating for them.
[Definition of "doula " from DONA.org, downloaded Feb. 2021]: A doula is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother before,
during and shortly after childbirth to help her achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible.
[On drug cost]: "I'll never forget sitting at the table trying to decide if we were going to pay for our mortgage that month or medicine," Carroll Foy explained of caring for her quadriplegic grandmother. "I wanted to make sure that no other person had
to make this impossible decision." As governor, she plans to work to lower prescription costs, hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for price gouging and seek ways to help local governments in programs that aid their constituents.
Source: Charlottesville Tomorrow on 2021 Virginia gubernatorial race
, Feb 16, 2021
Remove age cap on insurance coverage for autism
HB 2577: Health insurance; coverage for autism spectrum disorder.
Analysis by WTVR 6-News Richmond Jan 15, 2019: Legislation introduced by Del. Robert Thomas would expand autism insurance coverage to nearly
10,000 Virginians and lift the cap that excludes those over the age of 10. Under current law, individuals with autism can get insurance only from ages 2 through 10.
Autism is the only medical condition that has an age-based coverage limit. HB 2577 would eliminate the restriction. "No other health impairment including asthma, diabetes or cancer has such age limits imposed on them," Thomas said.
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 97-1-1 on Feb/5/19; State Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy voted YES; Passed Senate 39-0-1 on Feb/15/19; Signed by Governor Ralph Northam on Mar/18/19.