Press Article: Health Care at Risk as Budget Cuts Loom
As the U.S. Congress progresses with a budget bill threatening to cut $625 billion from Medicaid over the next decade, millions may lose critical access to health care services. This includes individuals like 30-year-old Hannah Lord from Maine, who grapples with a rare connective tissue disorder and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Lack of coverage could jeopardize her ongoing treatments and vital health consultations.
Currently, Medicaid insures over 21% of reproductive-age women in the U.S., significantly higher among women of color. The proposed cuts could also dismantle federal support for Planned Parenthood, which has historically provided essential reproductive health services.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has launched a public awareness campaign to combat the cuts, marking a significant shift in their advocacy approach. They are urging the public to reach out to Congress, signaling unprecedented engagement in health policy discussions. Dr. Clayton Alfonso, a practicing OB-GYN and ACOG’s legislative chairman in North Carolina, emphasizes that these funding reductions could exacerbate health inequities.
As the situation unfolds, advocates like Lord express determination, vowing to fight for vital health services. "We’re not going to give up easily," she insists.
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