FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Statement attributable to:
Bruce Siegel, MD, MPH
President and CEO
America’s Essential Hospitals
WASHINGTON —America’s Essential Hospitals is deeply concerned by the draft reconciliation bill text released by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. This proposal, which includes sweeping cuts to the Medicaid program, poses a grave threat to the health and well-being of millions of Americans and to the essential hospitals that serve as lifelines in their communities.
Slashing Medicaid funding is not just a numbers game — it is an action that will rip health care access from communities across America, disproportionately harming low-income individuals, rural populations, and hardworking Americans who rely on Medicaid for access to lifesaving care.
The bill proposes to cut at least $715 billion and will leave at least 13.7 million more Americans without health insurance. This unprecedented level of Medicaid cuts would devastate the program, undermining the ability of essential hospitals to provide critical services, including trauma care, behavioral health, maternal health, and public health emergency response. These hospitals, which already operate on thin margins, cannot absorb such losses without reducing services or closing their doors altogether.
We urge lawmakers to reconsider this dangerous path. Cutting Medicaid to pay for tax breaks is not fiscal responsibility — it is a direct assault on our nation’s health care system. As written, this bill does nothing to improve health care or access to services for Americans and will instead leave tens of millions without any coverage at all. We call on Congress to protect Medicaid and preserve the critical services that essential hospitals provide to millions each year.
America’s Essential Hospitals stands ready to work with policymakers to find sustainable solutions that strengthen our health care system.
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About America’s Essential Hospitals
America’s Essential Hospitals is the leading association and champion for hospitals dedicated to high-quality care for all, including those who face social and financial barriers to care. Since 1981, America’s Essential Hospitals has advanced policies and programs that promote health and access to health care. We support our more than 350 members with advocacy, policy development, research, education, and leadership development. Communities depend on essential hospitals for care across the continuum, health care workforce training, research, public health, and other services. Supported by Essential Hospitals Institute, the association’s research and education arm, essential hospitals innovate and adapt to lead all of health care toward better outcomes and value.
Contact:
Emily Schweich
Manager of Communications
media@essentialhospitals.org
202.585.0119
Author