Medicaid is at Risk

Medicaid, known in Tennessee as TennCare, is at risk.  

The budget resolution adopted by the U.S. House Republicans calls on the Energy and Commerce Committee which falls under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources to identify at least $880 billion in mandatory spending cuts over the next 10 years. It is not possible for those cuts to be made without significant cuts to the Medicaid health program.  Their plan also calls for adult recipients (ages 19-64) to work at least 80 hours per month which must be recorded with the administrator. Already, 64% of adult Medicaid enrollees work full or part time and nearly 3 in 10 are not working because of care giving responsibilities, illness, or disability, or due to school attendance which are qualifying exemptions under current policy. 

Nationally, 70 million people are on Medicaid.  In Tennessee 790,000 children (nearly 50% of all Tennessee children 18 and under) benefit from the program.  Fifty (50) percent of all state births are covered by Medicaid.  Tenncare also covers the health needs of the disabled and low income elderly.

So, what really happens if Medicaid is drastically cut?  Besidehttps://www.cbpp.org/research/jct-estimates-final-gop-tax-bill-skewed-to-top-hurts-many-low-and-middle-income-americanss the obvious, which is that current recipients will have little to no access to health care waiting until problems are severe and even more expensive before going to a doctor. They will have no access to mental or dental care.  Sickness leading to at least short term disability and deaths/mortality rates will increase.  But there is a domino effect that will hit rural areas the hardest.  Without payments from Medicaid more doctors will shut their doors unable to continue a practice without paying clients making everyone else have longer wait times to see fewer doctors.  Rural hospitals and nursing homes will also close for lack of paying clients, leaving all of us to go farther and farther for sudden emergency care, hospitalization, and to see our elderly loved ones who can’t care for themselves. More sickness and deaths will also hurt our state’s economy.  Fewer people will be supporting businesses.  Fewer people will be contributing to our federal and state tax base hurting other areas, particularly K-12 education as a large percentage of state tax dollars go to education.

Why is Medicaid on the chopping block?  To extend Donald Trump’s  2017 tax cuts.  In particular, those making $200,000/yr and more will continue getting tax cuts and every income group below $75,000 will face a tax increase.  Corporate tax rates (set to expire in 2025) will continue to be down from 35% in 2018 to 21% permanently.  Multinational companies will continue to pay even less in taxes on their foreign profits.

Whether any of us are Medicaid recipients or not, destroying Medicaid will hurt all of us, particularly the most vulnerable–children, the disabled, and the low income elderly.  All of us EXCEPT for the very wealthy and large corporations.

Call your U.S. Congress Senate or House Representative.  Ask for your state representative by name and if you must leave a recording tell them who you are and your city and zip code so they will know that they represent you.  Ask them/demand that they not cut Medicaid.  The number to call is (202) 224-3121.

https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/5-key-facts-about-medicaid-work-requirements/

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/s0716-Adult-disability.html

https://www.tn.gov/tenncare/members-applicants/eligibility/tenncare-medicaid.html

https://www.bu.edu/articles/2025/medicaid-cuts-could-cripple-health-program/

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/republicans-budget-change-deficit-impact-trump-tax-cuts-rcna194015

https://www.cbpp.org/research/jct-estimates-final-gop-tax-bill-skewed-to-top-hurts-many-low-and-middle-income-americans