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Protecting and Strengthening Medicaid
More than 50 million of America's most vulnerable rely our nation's Medicaid program every year to cover their health care costs. The public health insurance program provides low-income Americans including children, people with disabilities and the elderly with access to affordable and comprehensive health care. Medicaid plays a critical role in the health and well-being of some of our nation's most vulnerable populations. But the Bush budget makes devastating cuts to the program, slashing $60 billion over the next ten years. These cuts will shift an enormous financial burden on states that are already struggling to meet costs. Under the Bush budget, it will be difficult for health care providers to provide high-quality health care to millions of America's neediest families.
Democrats are ready to work with the President and the Governors to strengthen and increase the efficiency of the Medicaid program so it can continue to provide quality health and long-term care services to American families. But the Administration must commit to pursuing improvements that do not shift costs to the states, that protect beneficiaries from losing access to needed and affordable benefits, and that preserve the fundamental guarantee of health insurance coverage for eligible Americans.
RESOURCES
What will the Medicaid cuts mean in your state?
State by state: Federal dollars lost over next 10 years under the President's $45 billion net Medicaid cut
State by state: Number of seniors who could be covered by Medicaid with the amount of money taken away from the states in the fifth year of the President's cut
State by state: Number of children who could be covered by Medicaid with the amount of money taken away from the states in the fifth year of the President's cut
What's Happening in Congress
Read a letter from Democratic Leaders to President Bush: Do Not Shift Medicaid Costs to States
Don't Just Take Our Word for It
Read a statement from Families USA: President's Medicaid Budget Shifts Huge Financial Burden to States
Get Medicaid Updates:
“ Democrats are united in presenting a New Direction for America, one that will make our nation as strong as its people, one that brings opportunity, security, and prosperity to all Americans. ”
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi
