Groups Express Major Concerns With Leaked ‘Menu’ of $2.3 Trillion in Medicaid Cuts

STATEWIDE, Fla. - Florida Policy Institute, Florida Health Justice Project, Florida Voices for Health, and 52 other organizations are sounding the alarm that massive cuts to Medicaid would be devastating for Floridians who rely on the program, 77 percent of whom are children, adults 65 and older, and people with disabilities.

A recently leaked “menu” of potential federal budget cuts, first reported on by Politico earlier this month, would cut Medicaid by $2.3 trillion.

During a virtual press conference earlier today, health care policy experts summarized how these cuts would impact Medicaid on the state level, and they reiterated how vital the program is for the 4.2 million Floridians who rely on it. They were joined by several Florida residents who shared their personal experiences with the Medicaid program.

Erica Monet Li, MPH, CHES®, policy analyst at Florida Policy Institute, said: “These cuts include $9.8 billion dollars worth of per-capita cuts that would limit the amount of money Florida could receive for its Medicaid program. This is extremely concerning because we know that Medicaid promotes economic security and stability, and that timely access to health care services is necessary for children’s health and development.”

Joan Alker, executive director and research professor at Georgetown University Center for Children and Families, said: “Cuts of this magnitude would force states to make very painful choices about cutting services, cutting benefits, reducing payments to providers, or cutting eligibility. There is simply no way that a state could manage their way out of these kinds of cuts. And, as a consequence, vulnerable people, including children and people in nursing homes, would be put at grave risk.”

Virginia, an adult Medicaid recipient with a disability who resides in Alachua County, said: “With Medicaid’s help, I’ve been able to have a home health aide come every morning and every night to get me in and out of bed. It has made a huge difference in my life. I’ve been able to work and contribute as a person. If Congress were to cut Medicaid, I don’t know how I would live.”

Rev. Latifah Griffin, mother of a 10-year old son with cerebral palsy enrolled in Medicaid, said: “I wouldn't be able to take care of my son without Medicaid. The program makes it possible for him to attend pediatric extended care; it makes it possible for him to receive the services, the wheelchairs, and the devices that he needs. Having access to the things you need is most of the struggle when you're raising a child with special needs. If Congress cut Medicaid, I would struggle to take care of him. I would likely need to quit my job, because I would need to stay home due to being unable to afford the services for him without Medicaid.”

Andrea Dumala, a Floridian with a traumatic brain and spinal injury who lost Medicaid benefits in Florida after the end of the federal “continuous coverage” provision, said: “I've been deeply impacted by losing Medicaid coverage. I came to learn that our harshest lesson is that our healthcare system is incredibly broken at the time you need it the most. My injuries led to daily vertebrate dislocations, chronic muscle spasms, and a nervous system disorder from my brain injury, and I'm still in need of continuous healthcare management. I relied on Medicaid for ongoing treatment for chronic pain, rehabilitation, and prescription drugs. But when the pandemic-era ‘continuous coverage’ ended, huge numbers of Floridans lost access to needed health care, including myself. You don't realize the blessing and fortune of health until you lose it.”

Alison Yager, executive director at Florida Health Justice Project, said: “We call upon our elected officials to reject any proposals that would cut federal Medicaid funding. Floridians are already struggling to take care of their children and elders, and those with chronic conditions. We cannot afford to lose this lifeline.”

Acadia Jacobs, advocacy director at Florida Voices for Health, said: “Medicaid is an immensely popular program that provides a lifeline to our state and nation's most vulnerable. Any cuts to the program would come at the expense of healthcare for children, individuals with disabilities, and low income families. These proposed changes run counter to the needs of constituents and ignore what really matters to everyday Floridians.”

Groups Express Major Concerns With Leaked ‘Menu’ of $2.3 Trillion in Medicaid Cuts

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

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