Congressman Cleaver Joins Families USA to Highlight How Medicaid Cuts Would Hurt Missouri Economy
Kansas City, Mo.-- Congressman Emanuel Cleaver will join Families USA in highlighting how cuts to Medicaid would hurt not just low-income and middle-class families, children, seniors, and people with disabilities, but also the entire economy of Missouri. The Medicaid cuts in the House Republican budget, if implemented today, would have a devastating impact on the struggling economy of Missouri. These cuts would put as many as 35,210 jobs and as much as $4.2 billion in state business activity at risk. That's the conclusion of a report for Missouri released today by the national health care consumer organization Families USA.
"In recent memory, I have often heard it said that we must cut the budget in order to get our economy back on track" said Congressman Cleaver. "While I could not agree more that we as a nation must learn to live within our means, this report is a call to caution. The least of these should not bear the burden for a problem they did not produce. The cuts called for in Congress have a real, painful impact in our communities. Worse, the cuts will hinder our economic recovery."
The budget proposal adopted by the U.S. House of Representatives, sponsored by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), calls for cuts in federal funding to current state Medicaid programs of 5 percent in 2013, 15 percent in 2014, and 33 percent in 2021.
The report "Jobs at Risk" looks at the economic impact of a 5 percent, 15 percent and 33 percent cut in current Medicaid funding levels. Implementing a 5 percent cut in Medicaid spending in 2011 would:
- Cost Missouri almost $290.7 million in federal Medicaid dollars, and put at risk approximately $633.7 million in business activity and 5,330 jobs;
- Cost Missouri and the remaining 49 states and the District of Columbia the $13.75 billion needed to support health care for vulnerable residents, including funding for nursing home care and other long-term care services for seniors and people with disabilities.
A 15 percent cut in federal Medicaid spending in 2011 would have a greater impact and would:
- Cost Missouri nearly 872.1 million in federal Medicaid dollars, and put at risk approximately $1.9 billion in business activity and 16,000 jobs;
- Cost Missouri and the remaining 49 states and the District of Columbia the $41.25 billion needed to support health care for vulnerable residents.
A 33 percent cut in federal Medicaid spending in 2011 would:
- Cost Missouri more than $1.9 billion in federal Medicaid dollars, and put at risk approximately $4.2 billion in business activity and 35,210 jobs;
- Cost Missouri and the remaining 49 states and the District of Columbia the almost $90.8 billion needed to support health care for vulnerable residents.
"Jobs at Risk" data for all 50 states and the District of Columbia are available here.