Healthcare for West Virginians is on the chopping block

Congressional Republicans recently passed a budget in the House of Representatives that includes a massive cut to Medicaid—with some Republicans calling for as much as $2 trillion in cuts—to give tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy and corporations. Republicans have long been eyeing drastic budget cuts for key health programs like Medicaid, and now, they have the power to push these cuts through. Republicans have put millionaires over American healthcare and West Virginians would suffer as a result.

Medicaid coverage remains a critical source of healthcare for underserved people across the country, especially for people in West Virginia. Approximately 70 million Americans, including nearly 600,000 West Virginians (a third of our population), rely on Medicaid. In addition, the poor and people of color face higher poverty rates due to systemic barriers and have less access to quality healthcare, making programs like Medicaid essential for any positive health outcomes. 

West Virginia expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, providing coverage for an additional 164,000 Mountaineers. Research shows that Medicaid expansion saves lives and drastically reduces health disparities. States that expanded their Medicaid programs saw over 50 percent reduction in the gap between uninsured white and Black adults and a 45 percent reduction between white and Latino adults after expansion. Medicaid provides coverage for approximately 36.9 million (including 24,000 West Virginians) non-elderly Americans of color nationwide. With Medicaid, persons from underserved communities can have routine doctor visits, medication, nursing home care, and much more. For West Virginia, cuts to Medicaid would not only mean deepening health disparities but could put the state in financial despair: 

• West Virginia spent nearly $5.7 billion on Medicaid for the 2023-2024 budget year, funded by more than $4.6 billion in federal funds and around $1 billion in state funds. 

• West Virginia hospitals rely on the over $214 million in revenue from Medicaid to stay open and continue to serve their communities. 

• GOP proposed cuts to federal Medicaid funding could create an estimated $235 million hole in the state budget, forcing the state to raise taxes, cut other parts of the budget such as K-12 education, or make steep cuts to Medicaid eligibility and benefits.

• Medicaid finances around half of all births in West Virginia.

It has never been more critical to do everything possible to protect affordable healthcare access in America. We cannot abandon our nation’s most susceptible communities to pay for tax cuts for the ultrawealthy. Losing Medicaid coverage would be disastrous for West Virginians, who are experiencing lower rates of health coverage, worse health outcomes, and staggering health inequities.

It is no exaggeration to say that Medicaid cuts would touch nearly every household nationwide. Medicaid is the largest health insurance provider in West Virginia and the country – an essential pillar of our healthcare system. Republicans gutting Medicaid would also be devastating for seniors, children, low-income workers, and healthcare providers. If Republicans get their way, we will all pay the price. We must speak out and prevent Republicans in Congress from ripping away the critical care that members of our community need to stay healthy.

Hollis Lewis is a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates and on the Healthcare Committee.