Shaheen, Hassan Host Roundtable Discussion Highlighting Harmful Impact of Potential Republican Cuts to Medicaid
(Manchester, NH) – Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) hosted a roundtable discussion highlighting the harmful impact of potential Republican cuts to Medicaid. This event comes after Democrats held the floor last week to push back against the Republican-led budget resolution that would pave the way for tax breaks for the wealthiest while slashing programs like Medicaid to pay for it. At the event, Senator Hassan, Ranking Member of the Joint Economic Committee, shared a new Joint Economic Committee analysis showing the impact that Medicaid cuts would have on Granite Staters including the fight to combat the opioid epidemic. Photos from the discussion can be found here.
“One in seven Granite Staters rely on Medicaid for their health insurance, and gutting the program would have devastating consequences for families, children, seniors, people that live with disabilities and more," said Senator Shaheen. “We know that despite what President Trump may say about not touching this program, Republicans in Congress have made it clear that Medicaid is on the chopping block. That would cause real harm in our state and across the country. I’ll continue pursuing every avenue available to protect Medicaid and prevent health care costs from rising.”
“Medicaid helps strengthen our economy, our workforce, and the health of our families and our children,” said Senator Hassan. “The plan put forward by President Trump and Congressional Republicans will drastically cut Medicaid in order to pay for tax cuts for billionaires and special interests. It will have serious and severe consequences for people across New Hampshire and will prevent children and families from getting the health care that they need to thrive.”
The discussion brought together Granite State health care professionals, Medicaid recipients, activists and elected officials. In addition to Shaheen and Hassan, roundtable participants included Jonathan Routhier, The Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester, Steve Ahnen, New Hampshire Hospital Association, Tess Kuenning, Bi-State, Ken Gordon, CEO, Coos Family Health, Jake Berry, New Futures, Maureen Beauregard, Easterseals, Katie Phillips, Able NH, Shawn Cannizzarro, Hope2Freedom Recovery, Carrie and Katie Duran, Medicaid recipients, Maggie Pritchard, CEO, Lakes Region Mental Health Center, Jay Couture, CEO, Seacoast Mental Health Center and Rep. Laura Telerski, NH Deputy House Democratic Leader.
Last week, the majority of Senate Republicans worked to block several amendments Shaheen offered that would have helped make health care more affordable and accessible, including an amendment that mirrors her Health Care Affordability Act—bicameral legislation she introduced last month that would make permanent the Affordable Care Act’s premium tax credits for Marketplace coverage. According to the Congressional Budget Office, if the tax credits are allowed to expire at the end of this year, health care premiums would skyrocket and 4 million Americans would lose their health insurance altogether.
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