NYSNA President Testifies On Catastrophic Impact of Potential Medicaid Cuts
On Thursday, March 6, NYSNA President and National Nurses United (NNU) Co-President Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN, testified at the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee of the House of Representatives on the impact that federal Medicaid cuts will have on New Yorkers and vulnerable patients throughout the United States. This was the first in a series of hearings that House Democrats will conduct on Capitol Hill to highlight the real-life implications and human toll of a budget that threatens to inflict the largest cut to Medicaid in history.
The hearing featured everyday Americans who rely on Medicaid, as well as healthcare workers who understand Medicaid’s role in ensuring basic access to healthcare. Hagans, a nurse of over 30 years who currently works in a safety net hospital, testified on the devastating impact these cuts will have on her patients, many of whom rely on Medicaid for their healthcare.
Nurses know firsthand that Medicaid is a lifesaving program. Medicaid helps vulnerable patients get the preventative care that keeps them healthy and receive medications and treatment when they need it. It ensures that millions of women receive pre-natal, maternal and post-partum care, and that their babies and children have health care. Millions of people with disabilities and seniors rely on Medicaid to provide long-term services and supports.
The current administration – along with House and Senate Republicans – have passed budget resolutions that would allow massive funding cuts to the Medicaid program. Hagans was clear about the seriousness of the issue. “Cutting Medicaid will be catastrophic. If these funding cuts happen, people will die,” she said. She also reminded the Committee that more than 72 million – or one in five people – receive health care coverage through Medicaid and that receiving quality healthcare is fundamental to the economic stability of families and communities.
NYSNA nurses will not sit back and let these cuts happen. We are committed to protecting the health of our communities and urge every Congress Member to oppose any cuts to the Medicaid program. We have an important role to play to stop these cuts from happening and to make sure people understand what this means for the future of health care.
If we don’t stop the cuts, communities could lose their hospitals and health centers. Millions of people could be unenrolled from their healthcare plans. And nurses and health care workers will lose their jobs. Join NYSNA and other labor and community allies to fight back against these cuts at the Stop the Cuts rally on March 15 in New York City, RSVP today. And stay tuned for other ways to contact your representative and take action to protect healthcare funding.