Tuesday, Utah advocates with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) delivered nearly 1,000 petitions signed by constituents to Sen. John Curtis’ district office in Salt Lake City, urging him to protect Medicaid by opposing any cuts to the program. The postcards highlighted how looming cuts to Medicaid would harm Utahns, including working families, cancer patients and survivors, pregnant women, people with disabilities, seniors, veterans and children.
Federal lawmakers are considering a bill that includes deep cuts to Medicaid. Such devastating cuts would put essential health services at risk for millions of people nationwide. More 338,000 children and adults in Utah rely on Medicaid for lifesaving health care -- including prenatal care for pregnant mothers, prescriptions for limited-income seniors, well-child visits for small children, and cancer screenings.
“Cutting Medicaid or adding work requirements would have a devastating impact on Utahns who depend on the program for health insurance,” said Brook Carlisle, ACS CAN Utah Government Relations Director. “It’s impossible to make cuts to Medicaid without harming people battling cancer, chronic diseases, and other serious conditions. Sen. Curtis has an opportunity to stand up for Utahns and Americans nationwide by opposing cuts. Cancer advocates are calling on the senator to stand up for what’s right.”
The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on a reconciliation bill this week which includes drastic, $715 billion cuts to Medicaid that will result in at least 8.6 million people losing health insurance coverage, including cancer patients and survivors. If passed and implemented, these cuts will increase the number of uninsured people nationwide, raise overall health care costs and negatively impact state budgets. Most importantly, these reductions will result in more people not being able to access health care, which has been shown to be one of the most important predictors to prevent, detect, treat and survive cancer. Should the budget move forward through the House, the package will then be considered by the U.S. Senate.
ACS CAN volunteers and cancer advocates have contacted members of Congress more than 100,000 times and delivered more than 30,000 petition signatures this year urging Congress to protect Medicaid. ACS CAN is also launching a national ad this week, highlighting the life-threatening impact these cuts to Medicaid would have on cancer patients nationwide.
