“There is nothing ‘big’ or ‘beautiful’ about the Republican budget reconciliation bill that passed the House last night. The “Unfair, Ugly” bill would be more accurate. The Reverse Robin Hood House Republicans voted to cut $717 billion from Medicaid — a program that one in five Americans rely on for health coverage — to give the wealthy another huge tax cut.
This is the biggest assault on our nation’s largest health care program in its nearly 60-year history. An estimated 13 million people will see their health coverage ripped away, leaving the emergency room as their only option. Already strained hospitals — especially in rural areas — will become overwhelmed and close down. The country’s entire health care system could collapse, all to line the pockets of the rich (including many high-dollar GOP donors).
The bill is especially cruel to seniors, as Medicaid covers 60% of the nation’s long-term care services and supports. Seniors who wish to remain in their homes and communities likely will be forced to seek care in nursing homes instead, because of cuts to Home and Community Based Services (HCBS). Older Americans applying for Medicaid will now have to further impoverish themselves to qualify, because (previously exempted) equity in their homes will count against them.
Republicans claim that these cuts are only aimed at keeping ‘the wrong people’ off of Medicaid (migrants and their children). It will not only harm those populations, but children, working adults, and the elderly in general.
President Trump, who touts this bill, insists that he ‘cherishes’ Medicaid. But he clearly does not cherish the people who rely on it for basic health care — including many of his voters in red states that will be hurt.
Lower income Americans take another grave hit in the GOP bill, which slashes the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by roughly $300 billion — a whopping 30%. SNAP provides food assistance to some 40 million Americans, including nearly 8 million seniors. SNAP benefits help older adults maintain their independence and for some, can mean the difference between going hungry and enjoying nourishing meals. Republicans are literally taking food out of the mouths of needy people to give the wealthy a nearly $4 trillion tax break they don’t need.
We can only hope that Senate Republicans have the commonsense and decency to mitigate the ‘Unfair, Ugly” bill before it becomes law. Voters will hold the bill’s supporters accountable if these unconscionable cuts are enacted.” – Max Richtman, President and CEO, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
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