There's a lot of debate in Congress about federal debt control and how to lower federal spending. Many people are worried there is potential that the Medicaid program could be cut.
Families USA partnered with the American Cancer Society, Cancer Action Network, the American Diabetes Association and the American Lung Association to gather data from national and state government agencies. According to the report, more than 1.6 million people in the state are enrolled in Medicaid. Of that number, almost 230,000 North Carolinians rely on Medicaid for the treatment of chronic lung diseases like asthma and cystic fibrosis alone, including 116,000 children.
"Our Children and our seniors are at the greatest risk of these cuts . Asthma and cystic fibrosis are two very common lung dieseses that happen frequently in children and cutting Medicaid coverage from those kids would mean more ER visits for uncontrolled asthma, more missed days of school for uncontrolled asthma and potentially even death for kids, said" Kim Bailey, Senior Health Policy Analyst with Families USA.
Bailey said cutting Medicaid would also have a devestating impact on the state.
"If they loose their coverage or if their coverage is cut to the point where they can't get the care that they need, they are going to get sicker and end up in the hospital and someone is going to have to pay for it and it will mean it will get passed on to people with insurance in the form of higher premiums, it will get passed on to the state of North Carolina in the form of helping to support safety net institutions in the state and it will mean people are sicker and less able to contribute to the workforce," said Bailey.
Bailey said she hopes lawmakers will take a closer look at the report. For more information click here http://www.familiesusa.org.
