– Nearly four million people have been cut off from Medicaid coverage in red and blue states, disregarding federal warnings to decelerate cuts.
– Half of those losing coverage in minimum four states are children.
– Throughout the pandemic, the federal government commanded states not to terminate Medicaid unless beneficiaries willingly exited or moved to another state, yet some states did otherwise.
The Medicaid Mowdown
Ignoring federal warnings to tread lightly, both Republican and Democrat-led states across America continue to hack away at their Medicaid rolls, resulting in nearly four million people being stripped of Medicaid access due to insufficient documentation. This onslaught didn’t spare even the vulnerable child demographic, with children making up roughly half of the total Medicaid beneficiaries losing coverage in at least four states.
The Pandemic Protection Policy
Amidst the tumultuous environment of the pandemic, the federal government had explicitly directed states not to deregister residents from Medicaid, unless the said beneficiaries voluntarily exited or relocated to another state’s jurisdiction. This was an attempt to ensure that amidst a health crisis, access to healthcare wouldn’t be denied to those in dire need. However, the mandate was disregarded by a significant number of states.
The Breezy Take
The high-volume Medicaid cull in red and blue states, despite clear federal directives, is a disconcerting trend. What’s even more troubling is the high number of children who’ve been denied healthcare coverage—their vulnerability makes this issue particularly urgent. As we’re still in the throes of a pandemic, and with healthcare being a fundamental human right, the move is not just law-defying, but potentially life-threatening for many. Governments, regardless of their political leaning, should uphold their responsibility to prioritize citizen’s health and secure their welfare above all.
Original article: https://missouriindependent.com/2023/08/26/despite-federal-warnings-red-and-blue-states-aggressively-cull-medicaid-rolls/