GOP cuts would devastate nation

To the editor:

Last week, Rep. Eric Cantor walked away from the deficit reduction talks lead by Vice President Joe Biden. Cantor, like Rep. Robert Hurt, R-Fifth District, supports cutting vital programs like Medicare and Medicaid while refusing to discuss raising taxes on the wealthy. Why are many members of Congress, such as Cantor and Hurt, only looking toward cutting programs that assist the poor and middle class while refusing to consider asking the wealthy to pay their fair share?

Medicaid is one of the largest programs on the chopping block and yet, we all know very little about the program except for a lot of misinformation. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, three-quarters of Medicaid’s enrollees are comprised of adults or children. Medicaid brought in more than $3 billion in federal funds to Virginia in 2009. About one-half of Virginia’s Medicaid program pays for disabled care, and about one quarter for the elderly. Do you know that more than one-third of funds in Virginia’s Medicaid pay for long-term care (nursing homes)? Without this assistance, many adult children of parents who are in need of long-term care will have to assume the responsibility. This is happening at a time when many families are struggling because of job loss, income stagnation, and low wages.

In Virginia, children comprise more than one-half of the recipients; 20 percent of expenditures go for children. The percentage that goes to able-bodied persons is very small and many of these recipients are pregnant women. Only five states in the country have more stringent eligibility requirements than Virginia.

Job loss will result if Medicaid is cut. In Virginia alone, a report by Families USA states that a 15 percent cut would put 25,680 Virginia jobs at risk, potentially losing more than $3 million in business activity.

Medicaid consumes 8 percent of the federal budget and politicians want to get their hands on that money. A Republican plan would end Medicaid as we know it. The House plan would cut Medicaid by one-third and convert Medicaid into a block grant, which would give federal money without giving a federal guarantee that the funds will be used for the intended beneficiaries.

Virginia already has a very lean Medicaid program, ranking 48th among the states in expenditures. Gov. Bob McDonnell supports block grants, saying it will give Virginia more flexibility despite the fact that Virginia already has much flexibility in determining eligibility and provider payment rates. It can be expected that further cuts will result in the rationing of care.

The Republican plan budget cuts would be devastating to Virginia. Your voice must be heard. I urge you to take immediate action to protect Medicaid. Please contact Sens. Mark Warner and Jim Webb and Rep. Cantor. They will have a say in what will be cut and how much will be cut from the budget. Let them know that Virginia’s program is already lean and that more cuts will result in rationing of care. Support ending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, asking them to pay their fair share.

SHEILA BAYNES

Danville