Political leaders in Washington are discussing options for raising the nation’s debt ceiling limit by August 2nd and cutting federal spending to address the deficit. Medicare and Medicaid are targeted for significant spending and benefit cuts, with proposals being considered that would cut $14 billion in Medicare funding for rural hospitals, reduce the federal Medicaid matching rate to the states, and limit or eliminate the Medicaid hospital provider fee that supports expansion of coverage to the uninsured and the hospitals that care for the medically vulnerable.
These proposed cuts will disproportionately impact rural and underserved communities, destabilizing rural healthcare providers and facilities and severely limiting access to care in rural Colorado. CRHC has been communicating with Colorado’s members of Congress about the critical role that Medicare and Medicaid play in rural communities and we encourage you to do the same.
Please take a few minutes today and no later than Monday, July 18 to contact Senator Bennet, Senator Udall, and your Representative with this message: “Please oppose any debt ceiling plan that cuts rural hospital programs in Medicare or makes deep reductions in Medicaid payments, including the hospital provider fee. Rural communities rely on these programs and significant cuts will threaten access to care and economic growth in rural Colorado.” Feel free to personalize your message with how Medicare and Medicaid impact your community.
Please contact your legislators by phone and email:
Senator Michael Bennet, 202.224.5852 (ask for Rohini Ravindran)
Senator Mark Udall, 877.768.3255 (ask for Jake Swanton)
Capitol Switchboard, 202.224.3121 (ask for your Representative's office and to speak with the staff who handles health issues)
Click here for a list of Colorado's members of Congress and email addresses for their healthcare staff.
To learn more about how to communicate with your elected officials, the National Rural Health Association is hosting an educational webinar at 10:00 AM today Thursday, July 14. Click here to register.
