(SB1393)

GOVERNOR'S VETO

Pursuant to Article V, Section 6 of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto Senate Bill 1393, regarding Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) and maternal health programs.

I have signed House Bill 1929, which directs DMAS to implement a pregnancy resource application, which will accomplish the bulk of what Senate Bill 1393 sets out to do. However, Senate Bill 1393 goes further by authorizing Medicaid to cover food benefits. While nutritional care for pregnant and postpartum mothers is critically important, both of these services are well outside the core mission of providing healthcare.

There is an estimated fiscal impact from this expansion of $66.5 million in FY 2026. However, the budget that the General Assembly passed did not provide the necessary appropriation to expand services in this manner nor did it provide funding for nutritional counseling.

Importantly, the Commonwealth already offers robust nutrition programs like SNAP and WIC, which serve the same population. Medicaid Managed Care also includes enhanced services, such as postnatal meal delivery, at no added cost to the state.

Medicaid should not duplicate existing social programs or divert limited healthcare dollars.

Accordingly, I veto this bill.