Medicaid cuts could devastate students, patients and communities

Schools, hospitals and communities across the country could face devastating consequences if Congress moves forward with plans to cut Medicaid funding by $880 billion, according to union leaders, healthcare workers and educators. The proposed cuts—part of a broader federal budget plan—would directly threaten access to healthcare for millions of Americans, including children, older Americans, low-income families, and people with disabilities.

In public schools across the country, Medicaid funding supports the salaries of school-based health professionals, such as speech pathologists, occupational therapists and school nurses. It also pays for critical services like physical therapy, mental health counseling and specialized care for students with disabilities.

Without these funds, schools could lose the ability to provide essential services—from autism screenings to mental health support—that help students succeed both in and out of the classroom.

Corey Tamblyn, a school psychologist and AFT member in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District in Watsonville, Calif., told Public News Service that they often serve as the first line in identifying conditions in students like autism and mental health disorders. “Without these monies, I do think that we're going to be less supportive of our families, and more burdens are going to be put on families,” said Tamblyn.

The proposed Medicaid cuts would also hit hospitals hard, especially safety-net hospitals that serve the most vulnerable populations.

In 2022, Medicaid spent $262.6 billion on hospital care, representing one-third of all Medicaid spending and 19 percent of total hospital revenue across the country. Many hospitals depend on Medicaid’s Disproportionate Share Hospital payments to keep their doors open.

In New York, where more than a quarter of residents are covered by Medicaid, healthcare workers are sounding the alarm.

Amy Lee Pacholk, a surgical and trauma critical care nurse at SUNY Stony Brook Hospital, and a member of the New York State Public Employees Federation, told Public News Service that Medicaid cuts would make it even harder to maintain safe staffing levels. “Corners are often cut with staffing," she said. "For a long time, we have been working toward minimum staffing standards and safe patient ratios so that nurses can take care of patients at safe environments both for themselves and for the patients.”

In Washington state, Justin Gill, a nurse practitioner and president of the Washington State Nurses Association, told Public News Service that Medicaid is the primary insurance for at least 1 in 3 of his patients, noting that many of those patients hadn’t seen a doctor in years until they were able to enroll in Medicaid. Any cut to Medicaid is “going to directly impact their ability to access care when they need it,” said Gill. “That has long-term effects on their ability to catch conditions early, before they become much more costly and much more debilitating.

Julia Barcott, an intensive care unit nurse in rural Washington state's Yakima County and a WSNA member, said she fears for her community if Medicaid funding is cut. In her county, 69 percent of the patient population is on Medicaid, she said. “I saw the devastation that not having healthcare coverage caused during COVID,” said Barcott, explaining that people without coverage wait until they’re critically ill before seeking care. “The fear is that all of our hospitals will close in our community,” if these cuts go through,” she said. Barcott also warned that cuts could put basic care for children at risk, including vaccines, sports physicals and well-child visits. 

The AFT is urging lawmakers to reject the proposed cuts, warning they would disproportionately harm children, older Americans, veterans and working families. In a statement, AFT President Randi Weingarten criticized the plan, which combines massive cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program with $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, largely benefiting the wealthy.

“By voting yes, Republicans are endangering nearly 70 million Americans who receive basic healthcare through Medicaid,” said Weingarten, including cancer patients and older people who could lose coverage for long-term care services.

“Children, seniors, veterans and working parents could lose their food assistance altogether and will go hungry without it. Free school meals for children from low-income families will be on the chopping block,” Weingarten said. “Millions of current and future college students and their families will face higher costs to go to college and steeper student loan payments. And what for? To give tax cuts to wealthy Americans, even those with incomes in the top 1 percent who bring in $743,000 annually.”

With Congress still debating the budget, advocates say there is time to stop the proposed cuts—but only if enough people speak out. The AFT is urging members and the public to contact their representatives and demand they protect Medicaid.

[Adrienne Coles]