GCHD calls on federal officials to protect Medicaid
May 19—MOSES LAKE — Earlier this month, the Grant County Health District announced the passing of a resolution to call on federal leaders to protect and maintain funding for Medicaid. The proposed federal budget calls for possible extensive cuts to the program, which provides health care coverage for millions nationwide and thousands within Grant County.
"It came about from our health officer (Alexander Brzezny) who has been monitoring some of the conversations at the federal level and what he was hearing from some of the medical associations of some concerns that Medicaid funding could be reduced substantially," said GCHD Administrator Theresa Adkinson. "Looking at our data, we know this would have a huge impact on our health care system and our residents in Grant County,"
Adkinson said these concerns inspired her to meet with the GCHD Board of Health to explain why this would be important to Grant County. The resolution was adopted by the board April 9.
"Once we get the resolution passed, then that authorizes the staff and I to be able to talk with elected officials about the subject and talk about those impacts," she said.
After passing the resolution, the GCHD shared it with all their supporting associations as well as the federal and state elected officials with positive feedback.
"It opens that door for a conversation so that while it's not on the docket right now, you know that these conversations are happening now," said Adkinson. "They have those talking points from back home on what the impacts would be, not in DC, but here in Grant County."
Medicaid is a public health insurance program that provides free or low-cost health coverage to people with low income, disabilities, pregnancies and those living in long-term care facilities.
In an article from KFF, formerly Kaiser Health News, on May 14 the House Energy and Commerce Committee plans to use the changes to the Medicaid program to help meet spending targets aimed at funding President Donald Trump's domestic priorities. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the bill would decrease the federal deficit by more than $880 billion over 10 years.
According to a press release by GCHD, cuts to Medicaid could severely impact access to care for 40% of Grant County residents and more than 1.8 million people across the state. This loss of coverage would threaten health coverage, especially in rural areas where resources are limited.
The resolution states that, according to national County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, Grant County is faring worse than the average county in Washington for community conditions which determine health and worse for health outcomes which measure the health of local communities. Congressional Districts 4 and 5 have the highest proportions of adults and total population on Medicaid among Washington regions.
"People will stop seeking care because they're concerned about out-of-pocket costs, so in a rural community such as ours, access to health care is critical," said Adkinson. "You don't want folks to have to drive far to seek healthcare and then we already have some healthcare deserts where our community health centers have opened their doors, like down in Mattawa."
The resolution further says Medicaid is critical to the survival of rural Washington hospitals by being responsible for more than 25 percent of most Grant County hospitals' revenue.
According to data provided by area legislators and hospitals, 30% of Samaritan Healthcare's revenue comes from Medicaid, and 27% of that for Columbia Basin Hospital. Nearby, Othello Community Hospital gets 58% of its revenue from Medicaid.
Congressman Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., has said that the country needs to curb spending due to being more than $37 trillion in debt.
Legislators from both sides of the aisle have said that spending needs to be cut, but that cuts to Medicaid should be minimal to ensure people have access to care.
There is also concern that cuts to Medicaid could have impacts outside of negative impacts to access to medicine, including economic issues.
An article from George Washington University said cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program could also trigger severe economic consequences. The combined cuts could result in the loss of around one million jobs, $113 billion decline in states' gross domestic products and $8.8 billion in lost state and local tax revenue in 2026 alone.
"Medicaid and SNAP programs are not just designed to strengthen individual health and nutrition — they support the economic well-being of communities and businesses nationwide," said Leighton Ku, lead author and director of the Center for Health Policy Research and professor of health policy and management at GW's Milken Institute School of Public Health.
Adkinson said any citizens within the community who have concerns about the issue can help by talking with federal officials through hotlines, emails or drop-down boxes and leave messages about how this would impact the community.
"Personal stories always have an impact, it's one thing to look at a budget, it's another thing to start looking at the lives that are covered by this funding source and the jobs that could potentially be lost in our community as well," she said.
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