During a “Protect Medicaid” press event hosted by Caring Across Generations on Thursday, experts from national and state organizations, along with advocates for older adults, people with disabilities and families, pushed back on a Trump-backed House Republican budget proposal, saying the cuts’ effects would be a “five-alarm fire” for the healthcare system and “an economic wrecking ball” for communities.
Amber Christ, Justice in Aging managing director of health advocacy, said that many lawmakers believe cuts to Medicaid will not hurt older adults. What they don’t realize, she said, is that Medicare has huge gaps in coverage and is expensive.
“Any cut to Medicaid would strip away care to over 7 million older adults who rely on the program for their care,” Christ said, adding that a cut to Medicaid is a cut to Medicare. “This is not only inhumane, but it’s ineffective.
