Stivers shows his ignorance about Medicaid

I read in The Dispatch that U. S. Rep. Steve Stivers, R- Upper Arlington, believes that tackling the opioid crisis is best done through tax cuts for corporations and slashing billions of dollars from Medicaid. (Dispatch, Aug. 25 story.) How does that work?

Ohio hospitals and medical groups have lined up since January to explain to our representatives that Medicaid funding is vital for them to continue to help people who are locked in opioid and heroin addiction. But Stivers believes that he knows more about healthcare financing than the people who manage it daily.

The Dispatch said that Stivers "expects corporate tax cuts in a coming GOP tax bill (to be) one of the best methods to provide” resources to address the opioid crisis.

Could we ask him to draw a flow chart of how this “trickle down” myth gets more money to the hospitals and treatment centers? Or how cutting taxes helps the thousands of children in schools receiving educational supports thanks to Medicaid?

Maybe he could explain his stance in a town hall with constituents. I’m happy to help him create a Powerpoint presentation that explains to his disabled constituents — who in many cases have the ability to stay in their homes and participate in our communities because of Medicaid — what exactly is the "path off of" it he wishes them to take?

Stivers meets regularly with insurance- and financial- industry donors at high- dollar fundraisers, but instead of holding town halls in person, he seems to prefer tele- town halls. He is out of touch with us and our communities.

Leah Hackleman-Good Lancaster