Today, the Iowa State Senate Democratic Caucus distributed a letter to the members of Iowa’s federal delegation expressing grave concern regarding attacks on Medicaid. Senators Janet Petersen (D-Des Moines) and Sarah Trone Garriott (D-Waukee) have released the following statement regarding the letter.
“Cutting Medicaid is a horrible idea that will impact all of us, not just Iowans on Medicaid,” Sen. Petersen said. “More than 700,000 Iowans get their healthcare through Medicaid, which means it helps pay the bills for hundreds of healthcare jobs and facilities across Iowa. If funding is cut, Iowans will be forced to deal with a loss of healthcare jobs, loss of providers, and loss of access to care. Iowa’s healthcare system cannot sustain cuts to Medicaid without hurting Iowans.”
“Medicaid cuts would represent an unprecedented threat to the stability of healthcare access in rural Iowa,” Sen. Trone Garriott said. “Cuts could lead to a further reduction of services and increased hospital closures in our rural areas, where about 42% of Iowa Medicaid recipients live. It would be eliminating a lifeline for the families who already feel abandoned by politicians in Washington.”
“Our members of Congress have a duty to protect the programs on which Iowans depend and stand up to the special interests taking aim at Iowans’ healthcare,” the Senators said.
The letter, addressed to Sens. Grassley and Ernst, and Reps. Feenstra, Nunn, Miller-Meeks, and Hinson, and signed by the entire Iowa State Senate Democratic Caucus, is attached to this release.
