EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – A House Democrat says El Paso healthcare jobs and the Medicaid benefits of many residents are in jeopardy due to proposed massive federal budget cuts.
The Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday adopted a budget blueprint in line with President Donald Trump’s priorities. The Energy and Commerce Committee is being required to cut $880 billion in spending. It legislates on a variety of issues including health care.
“There are few other things in Energy and Commerce outside of Medicaid,” U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, said at a briefing with reporters on Friday. “So, you could cut everything from Energy and Commerce and that would only put a minor dent in that requirement. They’ve got nowhere else to cut except for Medicaid.”
Medicaid provides health coverage for millions of Americans including eligible low-income adults, children, pregnant women, the elderly and individuals with disabilities. Benefits are administered by the states, which must follow federal rules.
The GOP leadership’s rationale on the cuts is to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse.
“We are all interested in eliminating waste, fraud and abuse in Medicaid, but Donald Trump fired the inspectors general who were there to find waste, fraud and abuse,” Escobar said. “They also say they want to save money by instituting work requirements. Most Medicaid (adult) recipients work, so we can’t say everyone who receives benefits doesn’t work. That’s not the case.”
The Republicans next will work on transforming the budget resolution passed into a final budget bill to be voted on later.
According to the federal government’s Medicaid.gov page, more than 150,000 people in El Paso received Medicaid benefits. U.S. Census Bureau figures show 23% of all El Paso County residents under 65 are medically uninsured.
“I’ve met with some of the hospitals; I’ve spoken to local clinics. Should these cuts be made, not only would it take health care away from direct recipients but also take funding from our healthcare institutions,” Escobar said. “They will have to cut jobs, terminate contracts with doctors, they will have to layoff nurses, it will impact their contracts with small businesses. The domino and ripple effect in our economy will be devastating.”
In February, members of the Congressional Hispanic Conference including U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Arizona, and U.S. Rep. Monica de la Cruz, R-Texas, sent a letter to House GOP leaders urging restraint when cutting social programs.
“Slashing Medicaid would have serious consequences, particularly in rural and predominantly Hispanic communities where hospitals and nursing homes are already struggling to keep their doors open,” the letter said.
But on Thursday, all but two House Republicans – Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Victoria Spartz of Indiana – voted in favor of the budget.
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