LWVUS Urges Senate to Oppose Medicaid Cuts

LWVUS sent a memo to members of the Senate including the Finance Committee urging them to oppose cuts to Medicaid. Medicaid insures 1 in 5 Americans, and cuts to the program would cause shortfalls in state budgets and eliminate essential care for millions of Americans, including children, pregnant people, seniors with limited income, and people with disabilities.

To: Members of the US Senate 

From: Celina Stewart, CEO, League of Women Voters of the United States 

Re: Oppose Medicaid Cuts for Millions of Americans 

The League of Women Voters of the United States (the “League”) urges you to oppose legislation with Medicaid cuts, threatening the loss of Medicaid enrollment and participation in the Medicaid-funded Medicare Savings Program for millions of eligible Americans in the ongoing reconciliation process. 

Medicaid is the single largest source of health coverage in the country and is an efficient and vital investment in our nation’s health. The program insures nearly 72 million Americans, including children, pregnant people, parents, and seniors with limited incomes, and people with disabilities. These members of our community rely on Medicaid for essential care including doctor visits, hospitalizations, long-term care, maternity care, mental health care, and rural clinic services. Research shows that Medicaid coverage for children is associated with improved health in childhood and adulthood and improved educational outcomes. Health coverage for adults is associated with improved health and financial security. 

Insuring 1 in 5 Americans requires a significant federal investment, and many states cannot make up the shortfall of federal Medicaid cuts. As a joint federal and state program, Medicaid is predominantly federally funded and is often the largest expenditure in a state budget. Federal funding accounts for 50-77% of coverage, and 90% for a Medicaid expansion recipient. If Congress cuts Medicaid funding, it will force states to raise taxes, cut other state programs, and/or reduce Medicaid scope of benefits or enrollments for currently qualifying Americans. 

The League opposes Medicaid policies that the House budget requires, which threaten coverage for eligible enrollees. This includes a moratorium on the implementation of the 2023 and 2024 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Eligibility and Enrollment final rule on Medicaid enrollment and application in the Medicare Savings Program. The League also opposes the House budget’s addition of a requirement on certain enrollees to work, volunteer, or be enrolled in an educational program for at least 80 hours a month. Most Medicaid enrollees are already working and those who aren’t would largely be exempt. This requirement risks denying coverage to eligible recipients due to administrative burdens. 

The League believes that every US resident should have access to a basic level of quality health care at an affordable cost. We urge you to consider how Medicaid cuts could have grave impacts to your constituents and to the American people. We urge you to oppose legislation that cuts Medicaid and threatens the health care access for eligible Americans. With millions at risk of losing health care access, the health and well-being of our nation hangs in the balance.