Durbin Meets With The Illinois Hospital Association To Discuss Republican Plans To Cut Medicaid
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois hospital leaders to discuss their concerns over Republicans’ plan to cut Medicaid in the reconciliation package, to fund tax breaks for billionaires. Congressional Republicans have proposed $880 billion in potential Medicaid cuts, which would lead to nurses losing their jobs, mental health and obstetrics units being shuttered, hospital closures, and millions of people losing their health insurance coverage. In Illinois, 3.4 million people are enrolled in Medicaid, including nearly 1.5 million children.
“Medicaid covers half of all births, two-thirds of nursing home residents, and most patients with mental or behavioral health needs. It is a lifeline for rural hospitals. Cutting Medicaid to pay forbillionaire tax breaks is cruel and un-American,” said Durbin. “Today I heard directly from Illinois hospitals, from Chicago to Carbondale, about their concerns that the Republican plan to cut Medicaid will devastate hospitals and patients. This in no way ‘Makes America Healthy Again’ and my Republican colleagues know it.”
Photos of the meeting are available here.
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