WISCONSIN — Today, U.S. Representative Gwen Moore held a roundtable discussion in conjunction with Protect Our Care Wisconsin to highlight how Medicaid is under attack like never before. Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress are working to cut Medicaid by nearly a trillion dollars to pay for tax-breaks to the ultra-wealthy.
Medicaid plays a vital role in providing affordable health care coverage for more than 1.1 million Wisconsinites, including seniors, people with disabilities, children, new moms, working families, rural community members, and people suffering from opioid addiction and mental health disorders.
April marks the eighth annual Medicaid Awareness Month. During the event, speakers discussed what’s at stake for vital programs that allow individuals with disabilities to live independently – and more cost effectively than they would if institutionalized or hospitalized – and essential health care support that is often quite literally, the difference between life and death.
Terri Hart-Ellis and Lisa Orvis shared powerful stories about how their daughters were able to graduate high school and meaningful purpose thanks to the support of Medicaid. Felicia Clayborne, a small business owner, noted that thanks to Medicaid supports, “I’m out in the community, sharing hope with others.”
“Disability is not a partisan issue, or at least it should not be, it is an equal opportunity experience in life,” said Rachel Crites. “It is stunning to me that (more) legislators do not understand this.” Her son is able to work and navigate the community because of Medicaid supports.
Multiple speakers, including Chamomile Stevens, pointed out that without Medicaid the cost of health care would bankrupt their family. Just one of her medications would cost $600 out of pocket if she had to bear that cost on top of raising her two surviving children; her eldest passed away last year. She and each of her children are on the autism spectrum.
Erin Miller, a young adult on Badgercare, lives with a disability and has benefitted from preventative health care services – including mammograms, while sharing her story she put it plainly:
“Medicaid work requirements are functionally medicaid cuts – Mom and I are drowning in paperwork already as it is. Please, no more paperwork. More requirements for people who are already working, like me, are just more work.”
Republicans in Congress have passed authorizing budget language that calls on the Energy and Commerce committee to find between $880 billion and $1.2 trillion in cuts – meaning they are poised to devastate Medicaid.
“The good news is that we can stop this, we can stop them from cutting this (Medicaid),” said Congresswoman Gwen Moore. “We only need three Republicans to do the right thing.”
Moore urged her Republican colleagues to do the right thing and protect these vital services.
Medicaid benefits just about every household and community in the country, but to date, the Republican health care agenda isn’t about families or everyday Americans — it’s about Trump’s tax cuts for the wealthy, no matter who pays the price.
You can watch the full event here, and learn more about the GOP war on health care here.
