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Devastating Medicaid Cuts Proposed by U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee has proposed a budget that would slash Medicaid funding by $715 billion, potentially affecting 8.6 million people. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) strongly opposes these cuts, citing the devastating impact on cancer patients and survivors. Research shows that Medicaid access increases cancer screenings rates, early-stage cancer diagnoses, and improves access to timely cancer treatment and survival rates.

Key Takeaways:

  • The proposed budget would slash Medicaid funding by $715 billion, affecting 8.6 million people, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
  • The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) opposes the cuts, citing the devastating impact on cancer patients and survivors, with 1 in 10 people with a history of cancer relying on Medicaid coverage.
  • Medicaid access increases cancer screenings rates, early-stage cancer diagnoses, and improves access to timely cancer treatment and survival rates, according to research.
  • ACS CAN sent a letter to the Hill outlining the catastrophic impact of the proposed cuts, including work requirements, and called out the compounding impact of these cuts when combined with other proposals to dismantle health insurance coverage nationwide.
  • The proposed cuts will result in limits or severe cuts to Medicaid coverage for millions of people across the country, including cancer patients and survivors, with no access to affordable health insurance options.
  • ACS CAN's tireless volunteers and cancer advocates have reached out to lawmakers nearly 67,000 times, sent more than 100,000 messages, and more than 30,000 petitions already this year urging Congress to protect Medicaid.
  • Research consistently shows that access to health insurance coverage through Medicaid is a significant determining factor in an individual's chance to survive cancer.

Statistics:

  • $715 billion: The amount of Medicaid funding that the proposed budget would slash.
  • 8.6 million: The number of people who could lose Medicaid coverage due to the proposed cuts, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
  • 1 in 10: The proportion of people with a history of cancer who rely on Medicaid coverage.
  • 67,000: The number of times ACS CAN's volunteers and cancer advocates have reached out to lawmakers.
  • 100,000: The number of messages sent by ACS CAN to urge Congress to protect Medicaid.
  • 30,000: The number of petitions sent by ACS CAN to protect Medicaid.

Sources:

  • "US House Energy and Commerce Committee Proposes Dramatic Medicaid Cuts," American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, May 12 [Category: Life Insurance, Managed Health Care, Healthcare]
  • "Medicaid is a Lifeline for People with Cancer," American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, 2023 [Category: Life Insurance, Managed Health Care, Healthcare]

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