APHA Rebukes Senate for Approving Cuts to Medicaid and Other Invaluable Public Health Programs

Washington, D.C., September 22, 2006 – “We strongly oppose the Senate’s actions last night on the budget and appropriations bills that cut almost $5 billion from the Medicaid program and that cut additional funding from other critical public health programs. These votes will have little impact in helping reduce the federal deficit, yet they will have serious repercussions for those who depend on public health programs such as Medicaid to meet their basic health needs.

“While we appreciate that the Senate-passed bill includes significant cost savings from changes to the way the Medicaid program purchases prescription drugs, we believe that any savings should be reinvested in the program But most important, these savings are outweighed by the potential harm from funding cuts. Moreover, the bill gives states authority to require cost sharing such as co-pays and premiums for Medicaid beneficiaries, which will limit access to health care, especially among those who can least afford to pay.