As a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, one of my top priorities is restoring fiscal discipline and responsibility to our nation’s government.  However, there are some programs, like Medicaid, that are essential to the health of many Americans, and funding cuts are out of the question.  Medicaid, providing critical health care services for low-income children, the elderly, and the disabled, must be preserved.  

We need to find ways to protect Medicaid and make it a better program from a policy perspective, not a budget cutting perspective.  Recent numbers show that there are 717,000 Medicaid cases in our state.  That is one in five people in Arkansas who receive Medicaid.  Over half of Arkansas children are on Medicaid or have received Medicaid services this year.  Close to 80% of nursing home residents are paid for by Medicaid compared to the national statistic of 55%.  We must not leave behind those who rely on Medicaid to live.

It is crucial that any changes or reforms to this program do not come at the expense of the necessary benefits on which American citizens depend.  Changes that have the potential to shift these beneficiaries out of the program will only add to the number of uninsured and result in increased illnesses and higher health care costs at both the state and federal levels.

Last February, I met with Governor Mike Huckabee, and he expressed concerns regarding the sustainability of Medicaid and the impact of any reduction of federal assistance with administering the program.  I welcome the opportunity to work with Governor Huckabee and the NGA to ensure that Medicaid is protected and preserved and will continue to provide critical health care services for future generations of Americans and to those who need it most.