September 22, 2011 Michael Cassidy, President and CEO The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis

Challenges Facing Virginia’s Economy and Workforce Key Safety Net Programs Lag in Responding Policy Threats and Opportunities

Challenges Facing Virginia’s Economy and Workforce Key Safety Net Programs Lag in Responding Policy Threats and Opportunities

Medicaid Spending: Only 3 States Spend Less

Medicaid Eligibility: Only 7 States Have More Stringent Rules

Unemployment Insurance Recipiency: Only 3 States Extend Fewer Benefits

Challenges Facing Virginia’s Economy and Workforce Key Safety Net Programs Lag in Responding Policy Threats and Opportunities

Health Benefit Exchange and Medicaid Expansion Will Provide Health Insurance to Roanoke Workers Estimated Exchange and additional Medicaid enrollment: 33,688

Low income households in Roanoke benefit from the Earned Income Tax Credit Number of Taxpayers Receiving Earned Income Tax Credit, 2008: 23,110

There are currently 10,377 unemployed workers in Roanoke. Of these, 2,007 receive unemployment compensation. Raising Virginia’s recipiency rate to the national average would provide unemployment compensation to another 702 workers. Virginia’s Unemployment Compensation System