Learn more about Protect Our Care’s “Hands Off Medicaid” campaign here.
From California to New York, Democratic lawmakers and health care advocates joined Protect Our Care to tell Republicans to tell Congress that Medicaid cuts must be off the table as Republicans negotiate a budget reconciliation package. Republicans want to slash Medicaid funding in order to pay for their tax giveaways for the ultra-wealthy and big corporations, even though over two-thirds of Democrats, Republicans, and independents are opposed to Medicaid cuts.
Medicaid is the largest health insurance program in the country, providing health care to more than 70 million Americans. Cuts to the program would mean ripping away health care from millions of families who count on it, including kids, moms, seniors, people of color, rural Americans, workers whose employers don’t provide health insurance, and people with disabilities. The consequences of any cuts to Medicaid would touch nearly every household in America.
NATIONAL HEADLINES
Bloomberg: Republicans Want the Poor to Pay for Trump’s Tax Cuts
- There are a lot of known unknowns about exactly how Republicans will approach the major tax and spending issues facing the new Congress. But one thing is clear: Low-income Americans are going to be in the crosshairs. A “menu” of potential cuts developed by House Republicans proposes somewhere north of $5 trillion in spending reductions, the vast majority coming out of the pockets of the most vulnerable. The biggest item on the list is $2.3 trillion in proposed Medicaid cuts.
Salon: Republican Plans to Cut Medicaid Could Cost 22 Million Americans Their Health Care
- Even changes short of elimination could kick many people off the program. According to an analysis of proposed cuts from the Democratic National Committee, shared with Salon, proposals to curb Medicaid expansion alone — which extends coverage to Americans with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty line — could drive nearly 22 million people off the program.
The Hill: Democrats: Americans’ Health on the Line if Medicaid Scaled Back
- “The state-by-state breakdown shows that gutting the program would involve decimating rural communities across the country,” the analysis reads. Ten states have not expanded Medicaid, as is allowed under the Affordable Care Act.
New York Times: House G.O.P. Floats Medicaid Cuts and More to Finance Trump’s Huge Agenda
- One option floated by the committee would try to undercut the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion, which led to a ballooning in program enrollment. It would reduce the share of Medicaid costs the federal government pays for, increasing the burden on states.
IN THE STATES
CALIFORNIA
- Politico: A Healthy Spend
Friday, January 31 – Medicaid Event with Representative Judy Chu and Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula: US Rep Judy Chu and patient advocate Naida Tushnet joined Protect Our Care CA to discuss the GOP’s plan to slash trillions from Medicaid. “Medicaid is a lifeline for more than 80M Americans including more than 14M on Medi-Cal in California. It’s a crucial safety net for people of all ages,” said Congressmember Chu. “But President Trump and Republicans are determined to slash Medicaid funding in order to pay for tax cuts for billionaires and big corporations…In fact the Trump administration issued a disastrous memo earlier this week instructing federal agencies to pause all federal funding which resulted in all 50 states getting locked out of their Medicaid portal. Thank goodness this order was blocked by a federal judge and later rescinded, but we must stay vigilant.” You can view the full event here, and learn more about the GOP threat to Medicaid here.
IDAHO
Thursday, January 30—Medicaid Defense Event with Idaho State Senator James Ruchti and Idaho Health Care Advocates: Senator James Ruchti and Luke Mayville, Executive Director of Reclaim Idaho, joined Protect Our Care Idaho to discuss Congress’s plan to slash trillions from Medicaid. Through block granting, lifetime caps, and other draconian reporting measures, those at the top want to take away health care from millions of people who rely on it to hand out $4.6 trillion in tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy. Speakers also discussed how these cuts will hurt Idaho families, jeopardize hospital funding, and strain the state budget. “Our rural hospitals and medical providers are already struggling under extreme financial strain and our communities have a difficult time keeping providers. The loss of any portion of Medicaid funding would cause many to close their doors, meaning Idahoans in rural communities would have to travel even further to get the care they need,” said Senator James Ruchti (D-29). You can watch the event here, and view the post-event release here.
IOWA
Monday, January 27 – Constituent Meeting with Senator Joni Ernst Health Care Staffer Emily Covey: A group of five constituents joined Protect Our Care Iowa to discuss the GOP’s plan to slash trillions from Medicaid with Senator Joni Ernst’s staff. “Senator Ernst needs to know that we don’t WANT her to protect Medicaid funding. We NEED her to,” said Iowa disability rights advocate Zach Mecham. “Without Medicaid, people die,” Mecham said. “It’s not just a program on a budget sheet. For many of us, it is the difference between isolation and participation in society, and it provides essential resources for survival, dignity, and independence.” You can view the post-event release here.
MICHIGAN
Wednesday, January 29 — Medicaid Event with State Senator Jeff Irwin and Health Care Advocates: Michigan Senator Jeff Irwin and health care professionals joined Protect Our Care Michigan to call on President Trump and Congress to protect Medicaid from devastating cuts and ensure Michiganders can continue to get health care that saves lives and improves health. The appeal to prevent Medicaid cuts comes as Republicans consider a proposal to pay for tax cuts for America’s richest people, including slashing up to $2.3 trillion from Medicaid, which provides health care to more than 2.9 million Michigan adults and children in low-income households. “Medicaid keeps families and communities stronger, and we urge President Trump and Congress to protect this vital lifeline from cuts,” said Dr. Farhan Bhatti, CEO of Care Free Medical in Lansing and a longtime family physician. “Doctors and medical professionals see firsthand, every day in our clinics and exam rooms, how access to affordable, quality health care directly benefits our patients and the families we serve. When people can see a doctor without worrying about going broke, they are more likely to be healthier and more productive.” You can view the post-event release here, and watch the full event here.
- WWMT CBS: Potential Medicaid cuts spark concern for rural and low-income Michiganders
- Michigan Advance: Michigan Dem blasts Trump White House as ‘reckless’
NEW YORK
Thursday, January 30—Medicaid Defense Event with Congressman Jerry Nadler, Congressman Adriano Espaillat, and New York Health Care Advocates: Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) and Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) joined Protect Our Care New York to discuss the GOP’s plan to slash trillions from Medicaid. Through block granting, lifetime caps, and other draconian reporting measures, Republicans want to take away health care from millions of people who rely on it in order to hand out $4.6 trillion in tax breaks to the wealthy. “Despite campaigning for months on the promise of lowering costs for working families and making America ‘Healthy Again,’ it’s clear that Republicans intend to do the exact opposite – by enacting policies that will make millions of Americans sicker, poorer and more likely to die from preventable illnesses, all so they can pass almost $5 million in tax cuts for their billionaire donors,” said Congressman Nadler. “Medicaid provides access to health care to so many working class people, mixed-status families, single moms, seniors—everyone that’s not making ends meet must rely on Medicaid,” said Congressman Espaillat. “Trump wants to take our Medicaid. We’ve got to fight back. We must do everything we can to protect it.” You can watch the event here, and view the post-event release here.
- Politico New York Playbook: ‘Fired up and ready to go!’
VIRGINIA
- VPM: Lawmakers aim to protect Medicaid expansion for thousands of Virginians
Thursday, January 30 – Medicaid Event with Senator Creigh Deeds and Health Care Advocates: Senator Creigh Deeds (D-Charlottesville) joined The Commonwealth Institute, SEIU Virginia State Council and Protect Our Care Virginia to discuss Congressional Republicans’ plan to slash trillions from Medicaid. Virginia is one of nine states with a trigger law that will automatically disenroll the entire Medicaid expansion population (more than 600,000 Virginians, or roughly 7% of the state) if federal Medicaid reimbursement levels for that population drop below the current 90%. “Over 600,000 people are at risk of losing health care because of this irresponsible act,” said Senator Creigh Deeds. “It is a federal responsibility. We’ve got to hold their feet to the fire and make sure that the federal government addresses this, but this is something that will affect real Virginians and people we care about.” You can watch the event here.
- Richmond-Times Dispatch: Virginia Dems warn of stark choice if GOP cuts Medicaid (full text viewable here)
- Roanoke Times: Virginia Dems warn of stark choice if GOP cuts Medicaid (full text viewable here)
- WVTF: What happens if Medicaid is cut? Virginia lawmakers aren’t waiting to find out
- Virginia Mercury: Virginia Medicaid recipients on edge as GOP weighs cuts
- NBC29: State Senator Deeds calls for Medicaid protections
WEST VIRGINIA
Friday, January 24 – Medicaid Event with West Virginia Health Care Advocates: West Virginia health care advocates Ellen Allen of West Virginians for Affordable Health Care, Kaylen Payne of Planned Parenthood, and patient advocate Rusty Williams joined Protect Our Care West Virginia to discuss the GOP’s plan to slash trillions from Medicaid what what this would mean for West Virginians’ access to routine, emergency, and maternal care. “Our state is currently confronting an unprecedented maternal and infant health crisis impacting patients in all 55 counties,” said Kaylen Payne, Maternal Health Policy Analyst for Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates. “Currently, living in this reproductive health desert, many of the pregnant and postpartum people who access care either do so through Medicaid or Title X. If Medicaid is gutted in the way the Trump and Morrisey administrations have signaled they plan to do, pregnant, postpartum people and newborns will continue to suffer; and an already quickly deteriorating problem will become catastrophic.” You can view the post-event release here and watch the full event here.
- West Virginia Watch: West Virginia health care advocates decry proposed cuts to Medicaid
- Register-Herald: West Virginia health care advocates decry proposed cuts to Medicaid
- AOL.com: West Virginia health care advocates decry proposed cuts to Medicaid
Thursday, January 30 – West Virginia Watch Op-Ed by Ellen Allen on Why Medicaid Must be Protected: Protect Our Care West Virginia placed an opinion piece in West Virginia Watch by West Virginians for Affordable Health Care executive editor Ellen Allen on how Medicaid is an essential form of health care for both West Virginians and all Americans, and cutting funding for this critical, popular coverage would be devastating for the state. Allen explains, “Fewer dollars mean fewer resources for low-income families, people with disabilities, pregnant women and others who rely on Medicaid for health coverage. The state’s going to lose funding for all those people who lose coverage. Even though these poorer states spend less per resident on Medicaid, their federal reimbursement rate is relatively high, and so the impact of federal cuts is large. Gutting Medicaid will take health care away from hardworking families across West Virginia, instead of helping them — they deserve better, and it is within our power to do so.” You can read the full op-ed here.
WISCONSIN
Wednesday, January 29 – Medicaid Event with Congresswoman Gwen Moore, State Senator Latonya Johnson, and Health Care Advocates: U.S. Congresswoman Gwen Moore, Wisconsin State Senator LaTonya Johnson and a group of advocates joined Protect Our Care Wisconsin to warn what’s at stake if the Trump Administration and Republican Congress move forward with their plan to slash trillions from Medicaid. “We are very, very concerned (about threats to Medicaid),” said Congresswoman Moore, citing concerns about the future of community health centers, for nursing homes, and existing protections for unemployment compensation for those who deliver services to beneficiaries. “From cradle to grave, Medicaid has an impact on everybody,” added Moore. You can view the post-event here.
- WITI: Democratic lawmakers host roundtable on health care
- WITI: Concern the Trump administration proposes slashing health care benefits from Wisconsinites
- Wisconsin Examiner: Lawmakers again propose extending postpartum Medicaid