Early this morning, the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed its portion of the budget reconciliation package out of Committee, including approximately $9.5 billion in Medicaid cuts. The following is the statement of Ron Pollack, Executive Director of Families USA, about the Medicaid cuts:
“The budget proposal reported out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee today will cause enormous harm to many millions of low-income seniors, children, and people with disabilities across the country.
“The proposal will force low-income people to pay premiums and copayments that they cannot afford. As numerous studies clearly demonstrate, those costs will be unaffordable for millions of low-income people and will cause them to lose essential health care.
“To make matters worse, the Committee’s budget proposal will also result in weaker health care coverage for many people who count on Medicaid as their health safety net.
“While the House Republican leadership weakens the health care safety net for low-income seniors, children, and people with disabilities, it is poised to provide tens of billions of dollars in new tax breaks for the rich. These actions are mean-spirited and contrary to the decency and sense of fairness of the American people.”
**A side-by-side comparison showing the differences between the House and Senate versions of their respective reconciliation packages is available upon request.
