THOMPSON, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, AND PATIENTS WARN OF DEVASTATING REPUBLICAN HEALTH CARE CUTS

Davis, CA – On Friday, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04), Chief Behavioral Officer/Chief Community Health Officer for CommuniCare+OLE Health Sara Gavin, Interim Vice Chancellor of UC Davis Health Dr. Bruce Lee Hall, Yolo County Supervisor Sheila Allen, patient advocate Kate Laddish, and Susanna Hernandez of SEIU Local 2015 participated in a press conference at Yolo Health and Human Services’ Davis Office. The speakers warned that Congressional Republicans’ plan to cut at least $880 billion from the budget that funds Medicaid in order to fund tax breaks for the ultra-rich will devastate local access to care for everyone.

“Congressional Republicans have mandated an $880 billion healthcare budget cut, something that can’t be done without destroying Medicaid. And the destruction of Medicaid will hurt everyone,” said Thompson. “One-third of health care in California comes from Medicaid. Without this funding, hospitals and health centers in our community will be forced to slash services or shut down altogether. That means everyone loses access to care. All of this is for one purpose: to facilitate a tax giveaway for the richest people in our country.”

BACKGROUND

In February, Congressional Republicans passed a partisan budget bill that instructs the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over Medicare and Medicaid, to cut its spending by $880 billion. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has since analyzed the budget and confirmed that the Committee cannot meet Congressional Republicans’ mandated level of spending cuts without deep cuts to Medicaid. Millions of people would lose coverage entirely, and those who remain covered would see reduced benefits and fewer available providers.

Congressional Republicans’ proposed cuts to health care and nutrition programs in their budget bill add up to nearly the exact amount of savings the party needs in order to implement their tax bill delivering massive tax breaks for corporations and those making over $743,000 per year.

Watch a video of the press conference here.