Durbin Discusses Damage Republican Reconciliation Bill Would Do To Health Care
CHICAGO — U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today held a press conference at La Rabida Children’s Hospital to discuss the Congressional Republicans’ reconciliation bill, which includes $800 billion in cuts to Medicaid—in addition to cuts to Medicare and the Affordable Care Act—and is estimated to cause 16 million Americans to lose their health insurance.
“Medicaid is the health insurance program that covers one in four people in Illinois—3.4 million in our state—including 1.5 million children,” Durbin said. “Medicaid pays to deliver nearly half of all babies, and the program also covers two-thirds of seniors in nursing homes and is the largest funder of addiction and mental health services. If the Republican proposal goes through, hospitals will be forced to cut mental health services, lay off doctors and nurses, or close altogether. Why are they creating chaos in our health care system? To provide tax breaks to some of the wealthiest people on the planet.”
“We appreciate Senator Durbin’s visit to La Rabida to highlight the potential impact of Medicaid funding reductions,” said Rolla Sweis, President & CEO of La Rabida Children’s Hospital. “Currently, 90% of our patients—children with chronic and complex medical needs—depend on Medicaid for their health coverage. Reductions like those being proposed would impact our ability to provide the specialized therapeutic and holistic care these children require, many of whom rely on technology and adaptive equipment in their daily lives.”
The so-called One Big, Beautiful Bill Act would cut $800 billion from Medicaid, $300 from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and other provisions in the bill would trigger automatic sequestration, resulting in a $500 billion cut to Medicare. The Medicare cuts will reduce access to care for seniors seeking hospital, clinic, physician, and nursing home care. An estimated 16 million will lose health insurance coverage through these funding cuts and other elements in the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act, including additional paperwork requirements, placing a moratorium on a financing system for Medicaid used by 49 states, increasing co-pays for Medicaid beneficiaries, and eliminating premium tax credits for purchasing coverage on the ACA exchange.
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