Central and Eastern Washington at highest risk with Medicaid on chopping block -- 70% of children in Central WA's Congressional District 4 are on Medicaid; rural hospital leaders warn of closings
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Feb. 25, as House Republicans continue to debate whether they will make significant cuts to Medicaid, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) released a snapshot report highlighting the impact that slashing Medicaid to fund tax cuts for corporations and the ultra-wealthy would have on Washington state's health care system -- especially in Central and Eastern Washington.
U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
The snapshot report includes new data on the percentage of Medicaid patients in each of the State of Washington’s U.S. congressional districts, as well as by region. Congressional District 4 (Central Washington) and Congressional District 5 (Eastern Washington) have the highest proportions of adults and total population on Medicaid. Seventy percent of children in District 4 are on Medicaid.
The report also includes information provided by rural Central and Eastern Washington hospitals, showing how crucial Medicaid funding is for their survival. “We’re struggling to keep our doors open … the only thing left to cut is the hospital itself," the report quotes Astria Toppenish Hospital Administrator Cathy Bambrick as saying.
Based on interviews and statements from more than a dozen health organizations statewide, the report details how Medicaid cuts -- and the subsequent service cuts by providers -- would likely affect all Washingtonians.
Children:
47% of WA children are on Medicaid. "Babies could die," says Dr. Jason Deen, an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and pediatric cardiologist at the University of Washington who treats children across Washington state, as children like those he treats could lose access to life-saving specialty care without Medicaid.
Farmers:
Rural hospitals in Central and Eastern Washington would be hardest hit by these cuts. "It is not uncommon for our small family farmers to be on a Medicaid program," says Garfield County Hospital District CEO Mat Slaybaugh.
People with chronic conditions:
Without health care coverage, people with chronic conditions won't get the consistent care they need. "People are going to be dying in their homes," says Spokane-area nurse Jessica Grove.
Anyone with a medical emergency:
Medicaid helps people avoid the emergency room; it also funds first responders in our state. Cuts to the program could mean overcrowded ERs and longer wait times for ambulances. "Every Washingtonian should be concerned about any funding cuts that could lead to slower response times in a life-threatening emergency," says Dennis Lawson, President of the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters.
Sen. Cantwell’s snapshot report on Washington state is available HERE.
Medicaid is the federal program that insures many low-income adults and children, pregnant people, seniors, and people with disabilities. Washington state's Medicaid program, Apple Health, ensures that eligible Washingtonians can afford to seek health care and see providers when they need to. The program also ensures that hospitals -- which are required to treat everyone, regardless of their ability to pay -- receive reimbursements for the significant number of low-income people they serve. About 1.8 million Washingtonians are enrolled in Apple Health.
Congressional Republicans are proposing deep cuts to Medicaid through the budget reconciliation process. President Trump has said that he opposes cuts to Medicaid, however he has also said that he supports the House Republican budget plan -- which includes cuts to Medicaid. Late last week, Senate Republicans launched the budget resolution process, which would allow them to fold budget cuts and policy changes into a single package for an up-down vote. The House is expected to vote on a competing budget resolution this week, and the two chambers will eventually have to reconcile their plans and finalize the package’s details.
During Trump's first term, he supported -- and Sen. Cantwell opposed -- an effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act that would have cut Medicaid by $800 billion.
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