Don’t cut Medicaid in midst of opioid epidemic
On Wednesday, Oct. 4, a group of clergy, those in recovery and people with loved ones impacted by the opioid crisis gathered outside Arlington Cemetery to honor the lives of those lost to this epidemic, and to ask U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan, R-7 of Chadds Ford, to protect those struggling with addiction by supporting Medicaid which saves lives and supports our families through addiction.
The next day, Rep. Meehan voted against budget that would cut Medicaid by $1 trillion, radically restructure the program and end Medicaid expansion. He, along with 17 other House Republicans (10 of whom are up for re-election) did the right thing for their constituents. Unfortunately, their opposition was not enough to stop the budget from moving forward.
I’m tired of burying young people in our community. Too often, I sit with people whose lives are being torn apart by this epidemic. Too often, I hear stories from mothers who will never be able to hold their adult children again. I attend town hall meetings, vigils, marches, and fundraisers, but reports continue to come forth declaring that things are getting worse.
In 2016, drug a overdose fatalities increased by 37 percent in Pennsylvania — four times higher than the number of deaths in car accidents in our states. In over 85 percent of cases, opioids were involved. We are in the midst of the largest public health crisis our country has known; this is not the time to cut health care safety nets that serve those in recovery.
Medicaid is the largest provider of addiction treatment in the country. More than 124,000 Pennsylvanians relied on Medicaid for help with addiction last year. Yet the U.S. House of Representatives just passed a budget that makes $1 trillion in cuts to this essential program, and ends Medicaid expansion which covers 700,000 Pennsylvanians who otherwise would not be able to afford healthcare. These cuts to Medicaid are cuts to support for those struggling with addiction.
Even those who can afford to pay more, coverage for mental health and addiction won’t be guaranteed. The AHCA, the ACA repeal included in this budget, allows states to waive coverage for essential health benefits required in all policies including mental health care. Insurance companies could charge extra for these services. People would have to pay out of pocket for treatment for mental illness like addiction even if they have health insurance. If any other illness were this widespread,, we would be ramping up coverage and research. Instead, because the stigma still looms heavily over those with addiction, the opposite is happening.
We must treat substance use disorders as disease, requiring quality treatment, rather than crime or moral failing. This budget would make necessary treatment harder to access.
As a clergyperson and follower of Jesus, I take seriously his words in the 25th chapter of Matthew’s gospel account: “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Many of our elected officials who claim to be Christian and pro-life ought to consider how those two identities inform their stance on health care.