A recent Herald editorial raised alarms over proposed Medicaid cuts as Congress debates funding for extending President Trump and the Republicans’ 2017 federal income tax cuts (“Don’t gut Medicaid for richest Americans’ tax cuts,” The Herald, March 15). Here in Washington, state lawmakers are considering several proposals which would further cut funding for hospitals and health care.
As a medical professional in this community for 37 years, I urge readers to contact their legislators to oppose these cuts, which will harm our community.
Medicaid is vital, covering 20 percent of Washingtonians, including 35 percent of maternity patients and newborns, 38 percent of children, 40 percent of working-age adults with disabilities, and 59 percent of seniors in nursing homes. We all have neighbors, friends, coworkers, or family members who would be directly affected. Cutting Medicaid funding to individuals and hospitals will reduce access to medical care for many members of our community, undoing decades of progress in health care accessibility for lower-income families.
Hospitals are already strained by pandemic-related financial losses, skyrocketing labor, equipment and supply costs, and more patients needing care. If cuts are enacted, hospitals will be forced to eliminate services.
U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell recently said, “Medicaid patients will not stop needing care. Hospitals will still need to treat these patients; they will just receive less money for it … cuts to Medicaid will likely result in cuts felt by every patient.”
Cuts to Medicaid and hospital funding — whether at the state or federal level — threaten all Washingtonians. Tell your legislators to reject budget proposals that cut Medicaid and health care funding.
Dr. Cliff Rogers
Community Mission Board Member
Providence Regional Medical Center Everett
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