Advocating through the Night for Medicaid

 

I was proud to join advocates from DC and around the country yesterday for part of the 24-hour vigil for Medicaid, which is still going on as I write this blog post.  Besides the cuts being considered nationwide, the Energy and Commerce committee of the House of Representatives, where we in DC have no voting representation, is considering shifting the federal funding for Medicaid in DC from 70% to 50%, which would have devastating consequences.  

For now, it appears that the House committee has postponed its voting on the Medicaid cuts, but analysis has shown that in order to cut the government's budget deficit by $880 billion over the next ten years as directed by the House budget resolution, the House will indeed be cutting Medicaid, which is unacceptable.  So when you ask your friends and family living outside DC to write or phone their representatives NOW in opposition to Medicaid cuts, remind them to protect the cuts to DC Medicaid as well.