The U.S. Senate may soon vote on a budget reconciliation package that could cut millions of people across the country from essential health and nutrition programs. The American Heart Association, a global force changing the future of health of all, released the following statement, urging Senators to reject this harmful proposal and instead advance a package that protects and strengthens critical supports like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP):
"Unless the Senate intervenes, millions of patients and families could soon lose access to the health care and food they rely on. The current House-passed budget reconciliation package threatens to undermine Medicaid and SNAP – lifelines for children, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities and those living with chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease.
"Medicaid, the nation's largest public health insurance program, covers 80 million adults and children and provides access to preventive care that helps manage chronic illness and reduce costly emergency visits. Cutting this program would not only jeopardize health outcomes and increase financial strain on families who rely on it, but also undermine the health care providers that serve all patients, regardless of insurance status, and depend on Medicaid funding to stay open. These cuts would destabilize the entire health care system, reduce access and drive up costs for everyone. Extending enhanced advance premium tax credits is also important to help millions maintain coverage and avoid care disruptions.
"For more than 50 years, SNAP has been a cornerstone in the fight against hunger, supporting more than 40 million people each month, including one in five children. Reducing benefits or creating new barriers would disproportionally harm low-income families and limit access to nutritious food.
"Though school meal eligibility remains unchanged in the current proposal, cuts to SNAP and Medicaid would still ripple through communities by disqualifying many children from automatic enrollment in free school meals. Cutting these programs means cutting off children from the nutrition they need to grow and learn.
"The decisions made today in Congress will shape the health and well-being of generations to come. Short-term savings should not come at the cost of long-term well-being. We urge the Senate to vote no on this harmful package and work toward a final budget reconciliation package that protects and strengthens these essential programs so everyone, everywhere has access to the care and nutrition they need to thrive."
