Democratic Governors, Protect Our Care Blast Republicans Putting Medicaid on the Chopping Block

Democratic Governors, Protect Our Care Blast Republicans Putting Medicaid on the Chopping Block

 Today, in response to House Republicans’ efforts to slash funding for Medicaid in the upcoming GOP budget bill, Democratic governors and Protect Our Care condemned the threat to rural populations, seniors, and families.

DGA Chair Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, Vice Chair Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, M.D., and New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham discussed how Democratic governors are laser-focused on protecting and expanding quality and affordable care for the people in their states – despite Republican-led efforts to rip health care coverage away from millions of Americans.

 “Congress is not trying to balance the budget or reduce deficits – or if they are, they certainly shouldn’t be doing it on the backs of our most vulnerable people,” said DGA Chair Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly. “There are other ways to look for efficiencies in government. [Democratic governors] do that every day, and we have found ways to do it – [while] continuing to provide the services that our citizens need.”

“A cut can come in a number of different ways, and it’s still a cut, even if this Republican Congress tries to call it something else,” said DGA Vice Chair Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. “Giving a block grant to a state that is less than the dollars we receive right now is by definition a cut, even if they claim it’s a sufficient amount of money … Having a cap per individual and sending only those dollars in, if it is less than the current dollars [that] are coming in, is a cut as well. So I think it’s going to be incumbent, not just on us [governors], but also on the media to make sure that we’re telling the truth and the actual impact of any proposed cut, even if they try to dress it up with other words.”

“Deep cuts, if they occur to Medicaid, will absolutely devastate the rural health care system,” said Hawaii Governor Josh Green, M.D. “Not only will people get sicker sooner, not only will those who are most vulnerable have complications that are much more severe, but it will – as it enhances our suffering in America – it will also increase costs very dramatically … The thing we should not do is take Medicaid dollars away from states and vulnerable populations, and it absolutely has to be stopped.”

“Already, 46% of rural hospitals in rural America are nearing the brink of closure – that means that we need additional investments and better strategies to keep them afloat,” said New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. “More than a third of their revenue comes from direct investments and payments from Medicaid … that’s 432 hospitals that will close, doctors will leave, nurses will leave … I can’t urge the folks who are watching this enough – please fight for your family members, fight for your communities, fight for your state, fight for America’s health care system. Tell your Republican members of Congress to say no to these massive cuts to Medicaid. It is, in fact, an all-out assault on America’s health care system.”

A recording of the press call is available upon request.

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