Letter to the Editor: We should be concerned about proposed Medicaid cuts

Dear editor:

I read with interest Jeff Petty’s insightful letter concerning Medicaid cuts and the impact on our local hospital and rural communities in general.  

Monday the reconciliation bill in the House advanced with $715 billion in Medicaid cuts coupled with $5 trillion in tax cuts that primarily benefit the top 5%. The Congressional Budget Office supplies the data; check it out. Senator Josh Hawley published an op-ed in the New York Times critical of these cuts. 

Proposed cuts to Medicaid bring this home as Jeff pointed out.   Several million Americans will lose their health insurance and obviously some will die as a result.  

Check out Boston University’s Impact Dashboard (part of BU Global Health College).  They estimate an additional 28,721 preventable deaths with Medicaid disruption.  62,877 Wyomingites receive Medicaid, one in three children (CHIP), one in 14 adults, 70% of nursing home stays, our friends and neighbors.  Check out the Heathy Wyoming website.    

I encourage each of us to call our congressional delegation and voice our concerns about Medicaid cuts and tax cuts for the top 5%.  

Senator Barrasso: 202-224-6441  

Senator Lummis: 202-224-3424  

Rep Hageman: 202-225-2311 

The White House: 202-456-1111 

Sincerely, 

Tom Harrington 

Shell