Idaho Dems decry Medicaid cuts
The Idaho Democratic Party has issued a statement decrying the Medicaid cuts approved by the Idaho House today, saying, "Today House Republicans voted to devastate the lives of thousands of Idahoans." All of the 56 House members who voted for the bill, HB 260, today were Republicans; one Republican, Rep. Tom Trail, R-Moscow, joined the 13 House Democrats in opposing it. You can click below to read the party's full statement.
Idaho Democratic Party
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -
Medicaid Cuts Hurt Everyone
Today House Republicans voted to devastate the lives of thousands of Idahoans. HB 260 passed on a party-line vote and will cut Medicaid by $110 million. These cuts put thousands of people out of work and slash services to impoverished elders, and people with physical and mental disabilities. Ironically, the massive cut will worsen the State’s budget by increased costs for more expensive services in emergency rooms and prisons, where the mentally ill often end up without preventive treatments.
“Ultimately this decision will end up costing us much more than we saved. We will pay in our emergency rooms, our prisons and in our insurance premiums,” said Larry Grant, State Chairman of the Idaho Democratic Party.
In tough economic times, our most vulnerable citizens can least afford loss of services. These cuts will have long term, life and death consequences for disabled adults and mentally ill Idahoans who depend on Medicaid services.
The Behavioral Health Division of The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare attempted to track the 452 mental health cases that they were forced to close due to last year’s budget cuts. Of those people the department located, two had committed suicide, nine had been jailed and 48 had been hospitalized at least once.
The people of Idaho need a functioning government that serves their needs. Grant said, "Idahoans need political leadership that doesn’t sacrifice our future and the lives of our most vulnerable for the sake of political expedience and short-term fixes. Our Republican-controlled state government is failing miserably while everyone else suffers."
xxx
