Seniors, Women, and Patients Celebrated 53rd Anniversary of Medicaid and Medicare as New Health Care Threats in Congress and Supreme Court Emerge

By KEVIN ROGERS

RALEIGH, NC - As the nation marked the 53rd anniversary of the adoption of Medicare and Medicaid on July 30, seniors and patients held a birthday event at the Mecklenburg Government Center to release a new report showing how vital health care services for millions of Americans, including nearly 3.5 million elderly, disabled and low-income people in North Carolina, are at risk because of federal budget proposals that would cut Medicaid and Medicare to pay for the new tax law that added nearly $2 trillion to the national debt.

The report details how cuts to healthcare in the tax law are already raising premiums and out-of-pocket costs under the Affordable Care Act and causing millions to lose their health care while insurance and prescription drug companies have benefited under the same law.

Speakers, Kevin J. Rogers, JD, Policy & Public Affairs Director, a select group of seniors, women, and patients highlighted our Congressional delegation’s record on Medicare and Medicaid, including Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and on the tax law that Congress passed in December.

In addition, advocates outlined the new threats to Medicaid, Medicare and the ACA, which strengthened both programs including new proposal for more tax cuts unveiled last week that could prompt more proposals to cut Medicaid and Medicare and nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to fill the current Supreme Court vacancy. Kavanaugh’s confirmation would pose new threats to the ACA including key protections for people with pre-existing conditions and Medicaid expansion for 12 million people.