Numerous organizations from various states nationwide are holding ‘Save Medicaid’ awareness and petition campaigns to rally against the looming $880 million budget cut presented by Republicans in the U.S. Congress.
According to an analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), an estimated 2.3 to 8.6 million Americans could lose their Medicaid coverage.
In Hawaii, Medicaid is known locally as Quest. This federal and state-funded program provides health insurance coverage for over 400,000 residents across the Hawaiian Islands.
Medicaid turns 60 this year, and it ensures quality medical care, such as long-term care for those who meet certain criteria, including income, age, and disability.
It is still unclear what Medicaid cuts Republicans are eyeing to pursue. However, according to a USA Today report, CBO examined potential cuts:
– Reducing federal payments to states that have expanded Medicaid enrollments under the Affordable Care Act (ACA)
– Capping spending per enrollee for the entire Medicaid population
– Capping spending per enrollee under the ACA’s Medicaid expansion
– Revoke the Biden Administration rule on Medicaid eligibility
“Medicaid serves as a vital safety net for individuals and families who cannot afford private health insurance or who have limited access to employer-sponsored coverage,” said Francoise Culley-Trotman, CEO of AlohaCare, a community-led non-profit health plan organization.
About half of Hawaii’s children and around a third of residents rely on Medicaid for health coverage.
With the uncertainties brought by the possible Medicaid cuts, Hawaii residents who rely on Medicaid might face devastating impacts.
“They would be unable to come up with the funding likely to take care of their diabetes or their heart disease or other serious problems that they have,” said Dr. Jack Lewin of Hawaii Health Planning & Development Agency in an interview with Hawaii Public Radio.
“We would see some significant crises in terms of preventable morbidity and mortality across a population of people.”
Moreover, Hawaii residents from the island nations of Palau, the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia are also susceptible to the impacts of the Medicaid cuts.
“We just in the last couple of years succeeded in Congress in getting full access to Medicaid as part of the renegotiation of our treaties with those countries,” said U.S. Representative Ed Case.
“Many, many parts of that community are very marginalized and in great need. Their health care is pretty critical, and access to Medicaid has been a lifesaver for those communities. And so any reduction in Medicaid is going to hurt them in particular.”
Senator Mazie Hirono emphasized the consequences of cutting Medicaid funding.
“Gutting Medicaid would have devastating consequences for so many in our communities, and stories about the crucial role this program serves in people’s lives will help to raise awareness of just how critical this program is,” she said.
AlohaCare aims to raise awareness and advocate for Medicaid beneficiaries. To lend support, visit https://linktr.ee/sharemystory to submit a testimony on how Medicaid may have helped an individual or family through their health journey.
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