Nearly 1 in 4 of Evans’ constituents depend on Medicaid
Coloradans are seeing wall–to–wall coverage of how devastating Gabe Evans’ plan to gut Medicaid could be for the nearly 1 in 4 of his constituents that rely on the program for their health care.
Hospitals like Platte Valley Medical Center in Brighton and North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley – both located in Evans’ district – could lose millions in funding under Evans’ scheme to pay for permanent tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy through the largest cut to Medicaid in history.
Here’s what Coloradans are reading…
Colorado Newsline: ‘Shameful’: Colorado’s Rep. Evans backs $625B in Medicaid cuts in key committee vote
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Democrats, nonprofit advocates and health providers from across Colorado on Wednesday slammed U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans’ vote in favor of a Republican plan to reduce Medicaid spending by an estimated $625 billion over the next 10 years.
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About 1 in 4 of Evans’ constituents in the 8th Congressional District, which includes the northern Denver metro area and parts of Weld County, receive Medicaid benefits…. Evans’ yes vote broke a promise he made last month not to “support cuts that harm Colorado providers or patients.”
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“These cuts to Medicaid have nothing to do with fiscal responsibility or improving efficiency. They take critical healthcare away from people, plain and simple, to finance tax cuts for the rich,” [said Kathy White, executive director of the Colorado Fiscal Institute.]
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Platte Valley Medical Center in Brighton was among the health providers that would be at risk of closure under the GOP plan.
Colorado Public Radio: As Republican Medicaid proposal advances in Congress, Colorado’s health officials worry about potential impact
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“You can’t save $700 billion and not cut anybody off of Medicaid,” DeGette told CPR News. … “You’re going to have red tape and a whole bunch of people who are working fall off of Medicaid because they’ll get thrown off by the states.”
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Colorado does not have the resources to replace reductions made by Congress.
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Donna Lynne, CEO of the state’s flagship safety net hospital, said nearly half of Denver Health’s patients are enrolled in Medicaid, and it already is inadequately funded for providing that care. She said Republicans’ changes will make that situation more difficult.
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“I think there are multiple ways that this bill passes costs onto the state and Colorado simply can’t afford it,” said Adam Fox, deputy director of the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative… “It will cost us tens, if not hundreds of millions of dollars to administer work requirements that are proposed, that just add administrative barriers when people need care.”
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A loss of coverage for a large number of Coloradans covered by Medicaid would impact the bottom line of hospitals, community health centers and clinics that rely on Medicaid reimbursements to keep the doors open.
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“These proposals will still end up stripping coverage from thousands of Coloradans. It will take millions if not billions of dollars out of our healthcare system and our healthcare providers can’t take that hit,” Fox said, who cited a national estimate that with work requirements, hospitals could see over a 20% reduction in Medicaid reimbursement.
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“There are many rural hospitals and clinics and providers that will either have to reduce services or close their doors altogether. That means everybody in those communities loses access to healthcare.”
CBS News Colorado: Two Colorado representatives at center of debate over Medicaid work requirements in nation’s capital
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