Hoeven forgets BCRA includes nearly $800 billion in cuts to Medicaid

Sometimes we forget things, too…

(BISMARCK, ND) – Last night, Senator John Hoeven forgot about a few things. 772 billion things, to be exact.

That’s how much Medicaid spending would be cut under the deeply unpopular Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA). Last night, Hoeven voted in favor of the bill, after announcing just two weeks ago that he opposed it due to concerns about “the bill’s impact on Medicaid.”

“We hope Senator Hoeven hasn’t also forgotten about 90,000 North Dakotans who rely on Medicaid for access to lifesaving care,” said Democratic-NPL spokesperson Daniel Tick. “We’re sure this was an honest mistake that Sen. Hoeven will be eager to correct as the Senate continues voting over the next few days on measures that threaten to dismantle Medicaid and jeopardize health insurance for tens of thousands of North Dakotans.”  

Across the state, 90,000 North Dakotans rely on Medicaid, including 36,000 children. The BCRA – which was widely panned by health care organizations in North Dakota and across the country – would have cut Medicaid by an estimated $772 billion in the first decade, and by 35 percent over 20 years. Fortunately, the bill was decisively rejected by the Senate after nine Republicans – but not Hoeven – voted against it.   

It’s OK, Senator. Sometimes we forget things, too.

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