On February 25th, the House of Representatives passed a budget plan that suggests cutting $880 billion from programs under the Energy & Commerce Committee, with Medicaid being the largest program at risk.
Medicaid is a public health insurance program that provides health coverage to eligible low-income adults, working families, children, vulnerable seniors, and people with disabilities. About 1 in 5 people in the U.S. rely on Medicaid for health coverage.
Virginia expanded Medicaid in 2018 to cover more residents. The federal government pays 90% of the expansion cost, and Virginia covers the remaining 10%. Virginia also passed a “trigger law” with this expansion. This means if the federal government gives less than 90%, Medicaid expansion will end.
Medicaid keeps people healthy at all ages and stages. 2 out of 5 births in the U.S. are paid for with Medicaid, it provides coverage to 2 in 5 children and almost 3 in 5 nursing facility residents. Medicaid covers custodial nursing home care; Medicare does not.
Medicaid is the largest source of funding for mental health and substance use disorder treatment. As your local Community Services Board, Encompass Community Supports (ECS) is the single point of entry into publicly funded mental health, intellectual and developmental disability, and substance use disorder services. If Medicaid funding is cut, people will lose access to care.
Non-elderly adults and children in rural areas are more likely than those living in metro areas to rely on Medicaid for their health insurance. In Rappahannock County, 34.1% of children are covered by Medicaid compared to 30% of children in Virginia. 31.9% of children in Culpeper use Medicaid for healthcare.
Cuts to Medicaid will also hurt state budgets, reduce jobs at local service providers, and increase costs from more emergency room visits and unpaid care.
Now is the time to speak up. Congressional leadership, the House and Senate, need to work together to decide on a budget. You can make a difference. You can help protect Medicaid by:
- Sending a letter to your elected officials. The National Council for Mental Wellbeing has drafted a letter you can customize and send – https://thenationalcouncil.quorum.us/campaign/107658/
- Calling your local legislator: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative.
Your voice matters—action today can help protect Medicaid and ensure vital healthcare for those who need it most.