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“Devastating for Our Rural Providers and Hospitals”: Democratic Governors Condemn Republican Threats to Medicaid

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“Devastating for Our Rural Providers and Hospitals”: Democratic Governors Condemn Republican Threats to Medicaid

As House Republicans move to slash funding for Medicaid, DGA Chair Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, Vice Chair Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, Hawaii Governor Josh Green, M.D., and New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham joined Protect Our Care to condemn the threat to rural communities, seniors, and families.

Democratic governors discussed how they are protecting and expanding quality and affordable care for the people in their states in the face of Republican-led efforts to gut health care for veterans, kids, people with disabilities, and older Americans.

Read more about Democratic governors’ fight to protect Medicaid:

Kansas Reflector: Kansas governor pleads with congressional delegation to fight against Medicaid cuts

  • Kelly, the chair of the Democratic Governors Association who has campaigned for expansion of Medicaid in Kansas, said the latest proposal in Congress would have a substantial effect on coverage for about 443,000 low-income seniors, children, pregnant mothers and people with disabilities in Kansas.
  • “Congressional Republicans’ new proposal is expected to slash Medicaid funding by billions of dollars over the next 10 years, threatening health coverage for millions of Americans who rely on this essential program,” Kelly said. “It would be particularly devastating for our rural providers and hospitals who are already struggling to keep their doors open.”

WKYT: Ky. lawmakers discuss potential Medicaid changes

  • In a Tuesday morning Democratic Governors Association Medicaid press call, Gov. Andy Beshear spoke out on the possibility of changes to the federal program.
  • Gov. Beshear said Medicaid has been a game changer for the commonwealth, and said scaling it back would hurt the state.
  • “Rural healthcare cannot survive without Medicaid,” he said. “When cuts would go into effect, the impact would be profound.”

Courier-Journal: Gov. Andy Beshear: Medicaid cuts would be an ‘attack on rural America’

  • Beshear joined Govs. Laura Kelly, Michelle Lujan Grisham and Josh Green, along with Protect Our Care Founder and Chair Leslie Dach, on the Tuesday call, where the group raised concerns about health care accessibility and costs as national lawmakers look for ways to reduce spending to help balance the cost of a massive tax-cut bill.
  • Beshear focused on the potential effects Medicaid cuts could have on rural areas in Kentucky and nationwide, saying any cuts could decrease access and impact jobs.
  • He added that gutting Medicaid could make it harder for children with special needs or who face difficult challenges to receive the help or care they need, noting half of Kentucky’s kids are covered by the program.

Lexington Herald Leader: Beshear, Democratic governors decry GOP proposal to “gut” Medicaid funding

  • Republican efforts to slash billions in Medicaid funding would be “an attack on rural America,” Gov. Andy Beshear and three other Democratic governors said Tuesday.
  • The cuts would strip health care from millions of low-income Americans and cause the closure of dozens of rural hospitals over the next decade, they said on a call organized by the Democratic Governors Association.

Albuquerque Journal: Governor taking on higher-visibility role as federal budget fight deepens

  • During Tuesday’s event with the governors of Kansas, Kentucky and Hawaii, Lujan Grisham said up to half of the more than 820,000 New Mexico residents covered by Medicaid — nearly 40% of the state’s population — could lose health care coverage if Congress approves a budget bill scaling back federal funding.
  • In addition, she said 46% of the nation’s rural hospitals are already struggling to stay open and could be shuttered if federal Medicaid spending is reduced.
  • “It is in fact an all-out assault on America’s health care system,” said the governor, who also warned of the harmful impact of Trump’s promised tariffs on imported prescription drugs.

Watch more about Democratic governors’ fight to protect Medicaid:

KWCH: Gov. Kelly says Medicaid cuts could be a “death knell” for Kansas hospitals

WKYT: Governors speak out against potential Medicaid cuts

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