United Spinal Association is calling on Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) advocates to act immediately to preserve access to Medicaid benefits.
“Medicaid is an essential lifeline for people with disabilities,” the organization said in a Feb. 6 bulletin. “It pays for our health care and personal care services. It is what allows millions of people with disabilities to live independently and be a part of their communities.”
The Trump administration has talked openly of cutting funding to a number of federal programs, including Medicaid. In the days leading up to President Donald Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration, Politico reported that slashing up to $2.3 trillion in Medicaid funding could be part of Congressional Republicans’ plan to find funding for other Trump administration priorities.
“Right now, members of Congress are meeting behind closed doors and discussing possible cuts to Medicaid,” United Spinal said in its bulletin. “Cuts to Medicaid would make care worker shortages worse, force people out of their homes and into nursing homes, and raise out-of-pocket health-care costs. We can’t let that happen!”
United Spinal is urging advocates to use the organization’s “Hands Off Medicaid” webpage to send letters to their senators and members of Congress. Letters are pre-written, but can be amended to include advocates’ personal experiences.
“Cutting Medicaid funding, adding work requirements, or any changes that limit eligibility, harm those of us with disabilities, those who are older, or have lower incomes,” the advocacy webpage said. “Family care support professionals, children, and direct care workers are also harmed.”
In a Feb. 4 interview from Boston University (BU) Today, Megan Cole Brahim, codirector of the Medicaid Policy Lab at BU’s school of public health, said proposed ways to cut Medicaid funding include capping the amount spent on each Medicaid beneficiary.
“Or states may lower their already low Medicaid provider reimbursement rates, thus further reducing provider participation and restricting access to care for patients who already experience substantial barriers,” Cole Brahim said.
Policy changes like those “would be catastrophic to people who are currently eligible for Medicaid, which includes children, persons with disabilities, pregnant people, low-income elderly, and low-income parents and adults — nearly all of whom work or have caregiving responsibilities,” Cole Brahim said. “These people would lose important benefits and millions would lose health-care coverage altogether.”
