The U.S. House of Representatives has released its budget resolution, proposing significant reductions in federal spending. These cuts are anticipated to primarily affect the Medicaid program, according to a statement from Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association.
Wimmer expressed concern about the impact on health coverage for various vulnerable groups. He stated, "The House of Representative’s budget resolution would devastate health coverage for tens of millions of people, including the elderly, children, people with disabilities, and workers who do not get insurance from their jobs." He warned that these proposed cuts could result in increased medical debt for patients and higher costs for states while harming lung health nationwide.
The potential consequences include reduced access to well-visit check-ups for children and necessary healthcare for those with lung diseases like asthma or COPD. "There is no way to cut Medicaid spending without harming these groups," Wimmer added.
He emphasized the importance of Medicaid in maintaining public health: "Medicaid is a program that ensures families are healthy enough to go to work and that kids are healthy enough to go to school."
Furthermore, Wimmer highlighted concerns about air quality initiatives being compromised due to budgetary reductions. He called on Congress to safeguard programs investing in air pollution cleanup efforts which protect against asthma attacks and other pollution-related health issues. "Given the size of the cuts called for in the House’s proposed budget resolution, it would almost certainly harm efforts to clean our air," he noted.
Wimmer urged Congress to maintain Medicaid coverage and protect investments in public health measures aimed at ensuring cleaner air.
