Statement on new CBO estimate that GOP health bill cuts Medicaid by 35% over 20 yrs

(BISMARCK, ND) – In response to a new CBO estimate showing the Senate health care bill would cut Medicaid by 35 percent over the next two decades, Democratic-NPL executive director Robert Haider issued the following statement:

“Just last month, Senator Hoeven said, ‘any reforms made to the Medicaid program should work for states, providers and those who rely on the program.’ He must not have been in the back room where they drafted the Republican health care bill in secret, because this legislation would slash Medicaid by nearly $800 billion in the first decade, and by 35 percent in the next 20 years. That means millions of Americans and thousands of North Dakotans will lose their health care, rural hospitals will be forced to close, and states will be increasingly burdened with steep additional costs. Senator Hoeven, will you protect North Dakotans who rely on Medicaid for their health care by voting NO on this cruel bill or any bill that slashes Medicaid?”  

Earlier in the week, the CBO released its official “score” of the Senate Republican health care bill, showing that 22 million Americans would lose health coverage, including 15 million who would lose Medicaid coverage. Additionally, out-of-pocket costs for low-income Americans, working families and the elderly would skyrocket.

Rural hospitals in states like North Dakota rely heavily on Medicaid to keep their doors open and over 90,000 North Dakotans, including 36,000 North Dakotan children, have access to health care through Medicaid.

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