By Kate Thomas
As the Congressional supercommittee looks for places to trim the federal budget, early reports forecast that Medicaid is on the chopping block for either direct cuts or massive cost shifting to already financially-strapped states.
What’s missing from these negotiations is the recognition of the positive value Medicaid has on the economy of every state.
REALITY: Medicaid benefits are not actually a major driver of the deficit. In fact, quite the opposite is true.
When it comes to job creation, investment in healthcare through Medicaid is one of the most effective and efficient forms of economic stimulus. Every dollar spent on Medicaid–whether from state or from federal sources–provides vital healthcare services to seniors, children and people with disabilities while bringing additional economic benefits and new jobs to everyone in that state.
Cutting federal spending on Medicaid, then, means cutting jobs.
Send a message to your member of Congress to focus on jobs, not cuts.
More at www.seiu.org/healthcare-jobs.
