Proposed House Budget Outlines Devastating Cuts to Medicaid One in five Americans – more than 70 million people – rely on Medicaid for essential, life-saving health care. Medicaid is a lifeline for older adults seeking long term services and supports, children with disabilities, people with cancer and other chronic health conditions, and individuals who rely on Medicaid-funded home and community-based services to live, work, and participate in their communities. However, despite promises by the Administration not to cut Medicaid, House Republicans announced that they would slash more than 700 billion dollars from the Medicaid program in a bill released late Sunday night by the Energy and Commerce Committee. Analysis by ranking House Democrats and the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that more than 13 million people will lose access to health care under this proposed budget. In addition to dramatic reductions in federal Medicaid coverage, the bill would create onerous and potentially insurmountable barriers to accessing care, effectively penalize people who lose their jobs or are too sick to work part time, and limit key sources of income for State Medicaid programs. Not only will these cuts threaten the health and livelihood of individuals, families, and direct care workers across the country, they will result in a transfer of uncovered health care costs to States. We know that when States’ share of Medicaid costs go up, they are forced to reduce or eliminate optional Medicaid services. These optional services include the services and supports people with disabilities rely on to avoid unnecessary and costly institutionalization, to live and work in their communities, and to remain connected to their families and friends. CPR stands with the disability community in condemning these cuts, including political attacks on reproductive and gender affirming care and immigrant health, and we call on members of the House not to jeopardize the lives of their constituents to fund expiring tax credits for the wealthy. If you or someone you know relies on the Medicaid program, please consider sharing your story with federal legislators. Caring Across Generations has provided a toolkit for Medicaid advocacy and links to urge your congressional representative to protect our Medicaid program. Please reach out to your legislators today! Let them know these proposed cuts are going to cost lives, hurt millions of people, and must be stopped. |
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