Congressman Lawler Voted to Cut Medicaid—Now, Vulnerable New Yorkers are Feeling the Pressure
With New Restrictions Going Into Effect, It Will Soon Be Harder Than Ever for New Yorkers to Access Their Medicaid Benefits
HUDSON VALLEY, NEW YORK — As families across New York are already grappling with skyrocketing health insurance premiums, many of the most vulnerable are eyeing another threat on the horizon: Republican Medicaid cuts. With a host of burdensome new restrictions and bureaucratic hurdles set to go into effect, it will soon be harder than ever for New Yorkers who rely on Medicaid to access their benefits.
Earlier this year, Congressman Mike Lawler helped to pass the Republican Tax Law, which cut funding for Medicaid, state health programs, and other health care spending across New York. In total, these cuts are expected to force around 860,000 New Yorkers off their health insurance, which could lead rural hospitals and clinics across the state to reduce services or even close their doors entirely.
“Our medical journey began immediately after Jeffrey was born. He was paralyzed from the waist down, needed surgery to relieve pressure on his brain, and required around-the-clock care. People told me to prepare myself for the worst, that he might not make it. But I never gave up on him,” said Michelle, a resident of Patterson whose teenage son relies on Medicaid. “Because of the tireless care provided by so many nurses, doctors, and surgeons, Jeffrey is about to celebrate his 17th birthday in January. The only reason he’s alive today is because of Medicaid. Without it, there’s just no way we would have been able to afford all the tests, treatments, and medications that have brought us to where we are today. The care he received—that he continues to receive—has been absolutely life-changing. It’s given us a life with our son that wasn’t always guaranteed, and it’s given us hope. No family deserves to see that stripped away. Congressman Lawler should be ashamed of his vote, and should work to reverse the Medicaid cuts that he helped pass.”
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About Empire State Voices
Empire State Voices (ESV) is a multi-year campaign dedicated to amplifying the voices of everyday working New Yorkers. ESV is fighting for economic policies that make life more affordable for constituents and holding members of Congress across the state accountable when they fail to do the same.
