The upshot of a Republican led Congress threatening Medicaid sort of is sensible. They will’t threaten Musk, Zuckerman, or the opposite bunch of billionaires. They’d pay for that incidence. So, as a way to look good they decide on those that have little political clout. They don’t seem to be going to loudly point out how they cleaned Medicaid up by taking away healthcare from those that can’t afford it. Talking in generalities to constituents might be their safety from accountability.
Over 300 Organizations Name on New Congress to Safeguard and Strengthen Medicaid
– by Marissa Plescia
In a brand new letter, 344 organizations urged the brand new Congress (sworn in on Jan. 3) to guard and strengthen Medicaid.
The letter was addressed to Senate Majority Chief John Thune, Home Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer and Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries. Households USA, a healthcare client advocacy group, led the cost for the letter. Different organizations that signed the letter embrace the Nationwide Alliance on Psychological Sickness, March of Dimes, UnidosUS and the Middle for Well being Regulation and Coverage Innovation.
It comes as a number of Republican legislative proposals goal to tighten Medicaid by eliminating or considerably underfunding the ACA Medicaid enlargement, in line with the Middle on Funds and Coverage Priorities, a nonpartisan analysis and coverage institute. The proposals goal to do that by restructuring and chopping federal funding for this system, or undermining long-standing protections for enrollees.
Within the letter, the organizations famous that Medicaid is a vital supply of well being and financial safety for 80 million Individuals, insures 38 million kids and covers 40% of births within the U.S.
The organizations state: “The importance of Medicaid cannot be overstated. . . . It is the single most important source of financial support keeping rural hospitals open to serve the health needs of their communities.” “It ensures people with disabilities can access critical home and community-based services and secure meaningful job opportunities. Furthermore, it is the largest payer of behavioral health services in the country, providing essential access to mental health and substance use disorder care. And it helps working people stay healthy so they can afford to feed their families and send their kids to school.”
As well as, they declared that chopping Medicaid was not one thing Individuals requested for throughout the 2024 election cycle. Doing so would put prices on working class households and betray constituents, they argued.
“Proposals to cap funding, reduce the federal share of Medicaid spending, establish block grants, institute work reporting and community engagement requirements, cut state revenue from provider taxes or otherwise undermine the fundamental structure of the Medicaid program all have the same effect,” the letter said. “If instituted, Americans will lose access to lifesaving services, states will be strapped with massive budget holes, hospitals and clinics will lose revenues and be forced to cut staff and scale back services, and American families and workers will be unable to afford essential care and get sicker — leading to a loss in productivity and the economy suffering as a result.”
The organizations added that if the 119th Congress desires to decrease healthcare prices, “there are many well-vetted, commonsense and bipartisan proposals to address inefficiencies and inflated prices and eliminate waste from the health care system.” In response to Households USA, these proposals embrace closing authorized loopholes that enable drug firms to extend drug prices, strengthening hospital and well being plan worth transparency and reforming doctor fee.
Medicaid Threats within the Upcoming Congress, Middle on Funds and Coverage Priorities, Allison Orris and Gideon Lukens
