Editor’s note: Updated March 7 to include U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett’s comment.
The 7th Congressional District — which includes all of Livingston County — stands to lose nearly $1.64 billion in Medicaid and CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) funding over the next decade under the Republican House budget approved on Thursday, according to an analysis by the Center for American Progress.
In the 7th District, there are over 131,000 constituents covered by Michigan Medicaid and MIChild; in Livingston County, there are about 14,300 enrollees, about half of whom are children. (The 7th District includes all of Livingston, Ingham, Clinton and Shiawassee counties, the state capital of Lansing, as well as a majority of Eaton County and small portions of Oakland and Genesee counties.)
U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte, who represents Michigan’s 7th District, voted for the resolution.
“The people of mid-Michigan sent me to Congress to do the hard work necessary to lower the cost of living, secure our border, and unleash American energy. … I voted yes on a budget resolution that brings us one step closer to delivering on those promises.
“This resolution does not cut Medicaid. It does not cut Social Security. In fact, it does not call for cuts to any of the countless programs Democrats are using to fearmonger and cause panic for those who rely on them. Instead, it simply establishes a framework for us to begin working on the details of a thoughtful and responsible piece of legislation that will ultimately improve the lives of people across Michigan and the United States.
“In the weeks ahead, I will remain actively engaged with my colleagues and stakeholders in my district as conversations about saving and strengthening these programs continue. We have a real opportunity to make a difference for the hard-working people of this country, and I am prepared to make the tough decisions to get it done.”
On Feb. 25, the House of Representatives approved the measure by a vote of 217-215, with all Democrats and one Republican voting against it. The proposal allows for up to $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and a $2 trillion reduction in federal spending over a decade, and it raises the statutory debt ceiling by $4 trillion.
The House budget resolution for fiscal year (FY) 2025 sets the stage for “reconcilliation,” with the Senate, which quickly advances high-priority fiscal legislation. As explained by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, reconciliation was created in 1974 to allow for expedited consideration of certain tax, spending, and debt-limit legislation. The advantage is that in the Senate, reconciliation bills aren’t subject to filibuster (the Senate’s 60-vote threshold), and they limit the scope of amendments, giving the “process real advantages for enacting controversial budget and tax measures.”
All states rely on federal matching funds to finance their state Medicaid and CHIP programs; the analysis from the Center for American Progress explores the potential reach of these cuts by congressional district. Nationwide, the proposed cuts total $880 billion, with each Congressional district losing an average of $2 billion; coverage would be eliminated for nearly 16 million people.
Medicaid covers nearly half of all births in the U.S., as well as about two-thirds of nursing home stays, and provides health care for nearly 1 in 4 Americans, including low-income individuals and families, pregnant women, seniors, and people with disabilities.
In a statement shared prior to the House vote, AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack said the chamber should construct a path forward on budget reconciliation that “protects Medicaid from harmful cuts that would impact access to care for millions of Americans.”
“On behalf of the hospitals, nurses, doctors and those who care for and serve the needs of the 72 million patients that rely on Medicaid, we urge you to consider the implications of hinging the budget reconciliation bill’s fate on removing health care access for millions of our nation’s patients,” Pollack said. “These are hardworking families, children, seniors, veterans, and disabled individuals who rely on essential health care services.”
