ICYMI — State Treasurers Sound Alarm: GOP Budget Cuts Threaten Medicaid, Health Care Access

This week, State Treasurers from across the country warned their constituents of congressional Republicans’ efforts to slash Medicaid and the severe consequences that could follow. State Treasurers Colleen Davis (D-Del.), David Young (D-Colo.), Laura Montoya (D-N.M.), and Elizabeth Steiner (D-Ore.) spoke on a virtual press call, hosted by Americans for Responsible Growth, and criticized the recently-passed GOP budget resolution, which mandates $880 billion in federal spending cuts over the next decade, which the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office confirmed is impossible to achieve without severe cuts to Medicare and Medicaid.

From Oregon to Colorado, constituents heard from their state treasurers about how the “unconscionable” cuts would deeply affect everyday Americans, including shutting off access to healthcare for millions, eliminating thousands of jobs, and raising costs for taxpayers.

(NBC Denver)

See below for key excerpts from coverage of state treasurers urging congressional Republicans to reject drastic cuts to Medicaid and other life-saving programs that millions of Americans depend on:

Colorado Newsline: Colorado state treasurer warns of ‘grave risk’ from Republicans’ proposed Medicaid cuts

• “Colorado State Treasurer Dave Young warned Wednesday of the dire consequences for the state’s budget that could result from Republican proposals to slash federal spending, especially the cuts that would be forced on Medicaid by a recently passed GOP budget resolution.”

• “Young spoke alongside other state treasurers in a virtual press conference hosted by the advocacy group Americans for Responsible Growth, slamming the proposed spending cuts ‘coming from the Trump administration and from the activities of Elon Musk.’”

• “‘The Republicans’ current budget plan, backed by President Trump, is not only financially reckless, it’s needlessly cruel,’ Young said. ‘In Colorado alone, we have about 1.2 million seniors, disabled people, pregnant mothers, working-class families that depend on Medicaid. If federal cuts go through, our state must make up the difference by slashing other essential programs like education or kicking thousands of Coloradans off Medicaid. Neither option is acceptable to me.’”

• “‘As these health care costs increase, it’s just going to crowd out our education expenditures even more, and these are just not sustainable pathways for delivering effective services for people in the state of Colorado,’ Young said. “Children need to have a quality education. People need to have effective health care. We want an infrastructure system that works for people — our business communities count on that to thrive. And without a thoughtful approach to dealing with Medicaid, particularly in Colorado, we put the future of our state at grave risk.’”

NBC Medford: State Treasurer Steiner demanding federal cuts to Medicaid to stop

• “According to a release from the Oregon State Treasury, one in three state residents are on the Oregon Health Plan, Oregon’s Medicaid program. Steiner says that as a family physician and as a former state senator, she’s seen firsthand how Oregon’s Medicaid program has created better healthcare outcomes in the state. She says that with many families in financially delicate situations, any cuts risk the well-being of the working class, especially those living in rural areas.”

• “‘The bottom line: Medicaid works. America needs to provide opportunities to working families who are already struggling to save for emergencies, their children’s education, and retirement, not put greater financial burdens on their shoulders,’ Steiner said.”

• “Steiner adds Oregon’s economic stability is also at risk, saying these cuts will eliminate jobs and raise taxpayer costs. She says the cuts under consideration could cost Oregon more than $3 billion in federal funding.”

CBS Colorado Springs: Colorado leaders discuss how people could be impacted if changes come to Medicaid

• “‘These cuts actually go the wrong way if you’re trying to have a family and healthy communities. This current budget plan backed by President Trump is not only financially reckless, but it is needlessly cruel,’ said Dave Young, the Colorado State Treasurer.”

• “This comes as the Trump administration has said it will make major cuts to programs for the sake of efficiency. According to the AP, yesterday, a GOP budget bill was passed and submitted to be considered in congress. The budget outlines 4.5 trillion dollars in spending cuts.”

Portland Business Journal: Oregon Treasurer Steiner decries proposed Medicaid cuts

• “The cuts under consideration could cost Oregon more than $3 billion in federal funding and put coverage for 670,000 Oregonians at risk, she said. About 1.4 million Oregonians are enrolled in Medicaid, or one in three people in the state.”

• “‘Republican congressional leaders want to slash as much as $880 billion from Medicaid to pay for tax cuts that will primarily benefit corporations and well-off people who already enjoy the best possible access to health care,’ Steiner said during the press briefing. ‘I find it unconscionable, frankly.’”

• “Other proposals would erect bureaucratic barriers, including work requirements and frequent eligibility reviews ‘intended to deter people from obtaining and keeping benefits by entangling them in red tape,’ Steiner said.”

Colorado Public Radio: Federal Medicaid cuts would put Colorado in a “huge vise” says treasurer Dave Young 

• “Colorado’s state treasurer Dave Young, a Democrat, spoke out Wednesday against potential Medicaid cuts from the Republican Congress. ‘If federal cuts go through, our state must make up the difference by slashing other essential programs like education, or kicking thousands of Coloradans off Medicaid,’ Young said in a call with reporters, joined by three other Democratic state treasurers. ‘Neither option is acceptable to me. That's why we must do everything we can to protect Medicaid.’”

• “In response, Young urged policymakers to not make assumptions about people getting services from Medicaid, saying he hears many using political talking points and catchphrases. ‘All ‘they don't work’ and ‘they're just taking advantage of a system’ or whatever. ‘There's all kinds of fraud and abuse.’ Those are not substantiated claims. They need to dig deeper into that,’ Young said. “They also need to understand the everyday grind, the people that have a family member, a loved one that is coping with challenges like my sister are going through.’”

Healthcare Finance News: Hospitals one of the biggest losers from Medicaid cuts, state treasurers say

• “Democratic state treasurers of four states warned of the consequences of Republican-proposed Medicaid cuts, not just to their budgets and state beneficiaries but to hospitals. Most people who would lose Medicaid coverage would not get other health insurance due to the cost, such as through plans available on the Affordable Care Act marketplace, they said.”

• “‘Without Medicaid, most would have no insurance at all,” said Oregon State Treasurer Elizabeth Steiner. ‘This would lead to more uncompensated care, which is troubling, especially for financially struggling rural hospitals,’ the treasurers said.”

• “Republicans have proposed $880 billion in spending cuts over the next 10 years from programs overseen by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The Congressional Budget Office said earlier this month that Medicaid accounts for 93% of the total programs, leading to the conclusion that cuts can't be made without slashing Medicaid.”

If you’re interested in speaking with Americans for Responsible Growth Executive Director Dave Wallack or a state treasurer about our work, please email Ryan Thomas at press@focalpointstrategygroup.com.