1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

Preserving Medicaid is crucial for ensuring healthcare access for millions of vulnerable Americans. The proposed cuts of $2.3 trillion over a decade would have devastating consequences. Key benefits and coverage could be eliminated, pushing many into insurmountable medical debt or forgoing essential care. Safety-net providers like community health centers and rural hospitals already operating on thin margins may be forced to reduce services or close altogether. While fiscal responsibility is important, prioritizing healthcare savings over the wellbeing of our most disadvantaged citizens is unacceptable. Instead of draconian cuts, more sustainable cost-saving measures should be explored, such as expanding value-based care models that incentivize quality over quantity of services. Allowing more home and community-based long-term care options could reduce expensive nursing home utilization. Investing in primary care could prevent costly emergency room visits. Ultimately, gutting Medicaid will increase human suffering, undermine public health, strain state budgets through uncompensated care costs, and impede our shared goal of an equitable society. I urge you to protect this vital program and the vulnerable populations it serves. Reasonable reforms focused on improving efficiency and value should be pursued over blunt funding cuts that will undoubtedly harm millions.