National Health Law Program D.C. Managing Attorney Says Budget Proposals Reveal a Callous Agenda and Out-of-Touch Administration

Washington, D.C. – President Trump, showing little concern for Medicare and Medicaid, is pushing a budget that seeks substantial cuts in funding to both programs, and would condition access to Medicaid on work requirements.

National Health Law Program Managing Attorney of the D.C. Office Mara Youdelman noted that as a candidate for president, Donald Trump promised to protect both programs, and vowed that no one would lose health coverage during his presidency.

“From constant sabotage of the landmark Affordable Care Act to a new proposal that seeks to slash $87.1 billion from public health care programs, such as Medicaid and Medicare, President Trump is doing just the opposite of what he said he would do as a candidate. Instead of improving health care coverage, the president continues to reveal that he is beholden to powerful politically conservative interests, big business, and the super wealthy.

“Conditioning Medicaid on work requirements is also illegal, and the policy is at the heart of litigation the National Health Law Program, Kentucky Equal Justice Center, Legal Aid of Arkansas, Jenner & Block, and the Southern Poverty Law Center have brought on behalf of Medicaid beneficiaries in both states, where Trump’s HHS has approved onerous work-reporting mandates.

“Pushing outlandishly large and reckless budget cuts to publicly insured health coverage programs [safety net programs] and proposing legally suspect work requirements for Medicaid are unfortunately on par for this administration. One that is woefully out of touch with hard-working individuals and families in this country. Indeed, the administration’s newest proposals should be seen for what it is, a blatant giveaway to powerful interests on the backs of the hardest working and most vulnerable and underserved people in this country.”

Please contact the National Health Law Program Communications Department at [email protected]/202-552-5176 or [email protected]/202-621-1023 for further comment regarding the Trump administration’s new budget proposal.

National Health Law Program, founded in 1969, advocates for the rights of low-income and underserved people to access quality health care.