Press Release: Major Medicaid Cuts Threaten Health Care for Over 500,000 West Virginians
West Virginia residents face a critical threat to their health care amidst a federal proposal to slash Medicaid funding by $880 billion. Senators Jim Justice and Shelley Moore Capito voted in favor of these significant cuts, raising alarms among health care advocates.
Ellen Allen, executive director of West Virginians for Affordable Healthcare, emphasized the severity of the situation. "More than 500,000 residents rely on Medicaid for health coverage. We’ve seen little effort from our legislators to address these potential losses," she stated. The proposal could exacerbate existing challenges, as over 200,000 West Virginians already lost their Medicaid coverage after pandemic-era policies ended.
The cuts pose a direct risk to vulnerable populations, particularly the 72,000 residents in skilled nursing facilities dependent on Medicaid for housing and care. Allen expressed concern about the possibility of facility closures due to funding shortfalls, stating, "These individuals cannot afford long-term care; their families lack the resources to support them. The impact could be devastating."
Moreover, state-supported home care for individuals with disabilities is also at risk. According to the National Rural Health Association, nearly half of the nation’s rural hospitals operate at a loss, and further Medicaid cuts could lead to increased closures in West Virginia.
Advocates are calling for immediate action to fill these funding gaps and protect the essential health services that countless West Virginians depend on. As discussions around Medicaid continue, the health and well-being of hundreds of thousands hang in the balance.
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