EAU CLAIRE – While members of Congress are back in their districts during their recess this week, Wisconsin physicians gathered virtually to urge their representatives to answer about their support for cutting Medicaid in order to fund other tax cuts. Several of Wisconsin’s federal representatives, including Representatives Bryan Steil (WI-1) and Derrick Van Orden (WI-3), voted in favor of a budget resolution that paves the way for massive cuts to Medicaid, the federal-state program that more than 1.4 million Wisconsinites rely on for their health insurance.
“While Representative Van Orden and his colleagues are back in their districts this week during the House recess, we’re calling on them to listen to us, their constituents, and cease their support for massive cuts to Medicaid,” said Dr. Abby La Nou, an emergency medicine physician in Eau Claire. “Every day I see how access to Medicaid, or lack thereof, impacts patients’ health and lives. When patients have Medicaid, they’re able to regularly visit their doctor and manage their health conditions. They can lower their blood pressure and keep their diabetes in check. They can get early screenings for cancer and other diseases, allowing them to be treated more effectively. They can prevent expensive, painful health complications. But, on the other hand, when they don’t have access to Medicaid, their manageable health conditions become unmanageable. They end up in my emergency department with a stroke, heart attack, or other life-threatening complications that may have been prevented with regular medical care.”
If these Medicaid cuts are finalized, in Congressman Van Orden’s district, 152,992 people could lose their health care, including 70,000 children and 22,000 seniors.
In Rep. Steil’s district, 159,966 people rely on Medicaid, including nearly 80,000 children and 19,000 seniors.
“Medicaid covers 72 million people in the country, including people with mental health conditions, children, pregnant women, people with disabilities, working families, and veterans,” said Dr. Kevin Fullin, a retired cardiologist in Kenosha. “Medicaid is a highly efficient, well-run program. Medicaid helps create access to care for rural citizens and farmers and stabilizes rural medical facilities.”
“Under the massive cuts to Medicaid that Reps. Steil and Van Orden have supported, more rural hospitals could be forced to close,” said Dr. Sandy Frohling, an internal medicine physician in Chippewa County. “People in rural areas ALREADY have limited access to care, and more hospital closures will only make things worse. Pregnant women will have to drive further for routine check-ups. People experiencing health emergencies, like heart attacks and strokes, will have to drive further for care — and I know too well that in these cases, every minute counts. Our communities cannot afford this. Thankfully, it’s not too late. Our representatives can stop these cuts from becoming a reality. We’re urging them to do just that.”
