[Manitowoc, WI] — The Energy and Commerce Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives just concluded its markup of their portion of the federal budget reconciliation bill. The bill as it currently stands would cut $715 billion from the Medicaid program over the next 10 years and result in 13.7 million people losing their health insurance coverage through cuts to Medicaid and weakening the ACA. This bill would be the largest ever cut to Medicaid.
The proposed Medicaid cuts present a serious risk to critical services that millions of Americans rely on; including clients served at Ascend Services, Inc. These cuts could greatly impact Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS), which allow older adults and individuals with
disabilities to live independently in their communities rather than being forced into institutional care.
Medicaid provides both mandatory and optional services. While states are required to fund mandatory services—including nursing homes and institutional care—optional services, such as HCBS, are at risk when budgets tighten. Currently, 50% of all optional Medicaid spending supports HCBS programs like Family Care, IRIS, and CLTS in Wisconsin, which serve the most vulnerable populations.
The numbers tell the story:
- Over 80,000 individuals in Wisconsin rely on HCBS programs for essential care and support.
- 86% of Medicaid optional services spending goes to older adults and individuals with disabilities.
- If HCBS funding is slashed or waiting lists restart, individuals may lose access to these vital services altogether.
- Ascend Services, Inc. has been a trusted provider in Manitowoc County for nearly 70 years, serving over 250 individuals with essential support. Any cuts to Medicaid would have a devastating effect on the people who rely on our services, jeopardizing their well-being and quality of life.
“For the populations we serve, this could mean uncertainty, waitlists, and loss of access to essential care”, Deanna Genske, Executive Director Ascend Services Inc. shared. We all need to call on legislators to recognize the devastating impact these proposed cuts would have on our communities. Now is the time to act—to preserve the services that allow people to remain in their homes and communities, where they belong optional services are more at risk in tight budgets. You may want to adjust the word target, because no particular service is targeted, but it is true that the highest cost optional services are more at risk and that these have been what states cut first in past recessions
