The future of Patrick County's only hospital has been caught up in the debate over Medicaid expansion, but it now appears a bill that could help reopen the facility is getting a second chance in Richmond.

Senator Bill Stanley introduced legislation that would extend the state license of Pioneer Community Hospital for a year, a move that should make it easier to find a buyer for the closed facility.

And when we talked with Stanley last week in Richmond, he was optimistic the measure would quickly win approval in the State Senate and the House of Delegates.

"And we can have it on Governor Northam's desk, perhaps as early as a week or two weeks from now," he told us then.

But all that changed on Tuesday when the bill reached the Senate floor.

"Ayes 30, Nos 10, the bill fails," said Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax, announcing the vote.

Some Senate Democrats who want the state to expand Medicaid to 400-thousand low-income Virginians, withheld their support of Stanley's bill, and the emergency measure fell short by two votes.

Stanley responded.

"The people you talk about wanting to help in that other issue you want me to vote on, are the people you're hurting," Stanley said on the Senate floor. "Hypocrisy has a name, and I'm angry and I'm ashamed of you."

"I'm angry also. I'm very angry that I have constituents, yes even in northern Virginia, even in wealthy Fairfax County and Arlington County that have no health care," said Democratic State Senator Janet Howell.

"I think we need to get together and figure out a way we can provide health care throughout the Commonwealth and not just pick one small community."

Despite the impasse, Tuesday's vote won't be the last word on the legislation.

Stanley re-introduced the measure. A senate committee has approved it, and it's now headed toward another vote by the full Senate next week.