GOP Senator: Medicaid Is Broken. Republicans Are Trying To Save It
As an OB-GYN in rural Kansas, I delivered a baby almost every day for over 25 years. About half of these deliveries were on Medicaid, and another 10 to 20 percent were done without reimbursement. Every doctor in our community, and our hospital, took all comers; no one was turned away based on their ability to pay. We thought it was our duty, our obligation to society. It's why we wanted to become doctors: to serve our fellow human beings. All this despite no increase in reimbursement from Medicaid in my 25 years of practicing medicine.
I've said it many times: Medicaid is the most broken program in the country. Having Medicaid does not mean you have access to health care. Only 74 percent of physicians accept Medicaid, and many of those who say they do never see patients on Medicaid. Others string out appointments and limit the number they will see. Many specialists use the "busy schedule excuse" and give Medicaid patients appointments months and months out; for all practical purposes, they exclude them from their practice.
Over the past five years, Medicaid spending has increased by hundreds of billions of dollars while American health outcomes have declined. Our plan will strengthen and save Medicaid for those who need it the most. By keeping the program fiscally solvent, Republicans are protecting seniors in nursing homes and all those with disabilities. We are ensuring funding will remain available for pregnant moms and prioritizing funding for children. In fact, almost half of all the children in the country—37 million—are now on Medicaid's CHIP program. We must prioritize every dollar we have for those who need it the most.
US Senator Roger Marshall, a Republican from Kansas, testifies during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Breaking the Visa-Mastercard Duopoly: Bringing Competition and Lower Fees to the Credit Card System" on Capitol Hill in Washington,...
US Senator Roger Marshall, a Republican from Kansas, testifies during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Breaking the Visa-Mastercard Duopoly: Bringing Competition and Lower Fees to the Credit Card System" on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on November 19, 2024. More
ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP/Getty Images
Over 60 percent of Americans support work requirements for Medicaid; a job is the best safety net out there, not to mention a great treatment for mental health and addiction issues.
I believe there are better solutions out there than throwing more money at a program that doesn't work well. More block grants to federally funded Community Health Centers, which are developing a broad-based, more holistic approach to health care—which I believe will become a big part of the "Make America Healthy Again" movement.
Another is block grants to rural hospitals, which are struggling. The best thing we can do for rural hospitals is strengthen our agricultural economy, which last year suffered its largest drop in net income in my lifetime. The GOP-led farm bill will help do just that; provisions related to biofuel production, taxes on farmers, and crop insurance will boost rural America's economy. Rural hospitals are a reflection of their local economies, and with populations declining in many rural counties, the financial base to support rural hospitals is no longer there. Any hospital that builds its financial survival based on dependence on Medicaid is bound to fail.
We hope that this GOP bill spurs the economy, and expect that if anyone loses Medicaid, it'll only be because they found a good job with benefits. A good job is the best safety net out there.
Roger Marshall, M.D., a Republican, is the junior U.S. senator from Kansas. He sits on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Black America Web
21 minutes ago
- Black America Web
SCOTUS Medicaid Decision Could Defund Planned Parenthood
Source: Kevin Hagen / Getty A new decision from the ultraconservative SCOTUS majority involving Medicaid dealt another blow to reproductive rights in a decision that could set the stage for states to defund Planned Parenthood. In Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic , the Court ruled 6-3 along ideological lines that the federal law at issue does not allow Medicaid recipients the right to sue to enforce their choice of provider. According to the ultraconservative majority, Medicaid recipients do have a right under federal law to choose their own provider. But they cannot sue to enforce that right even where a state takes the decision away from them, as is the case in South Carolina. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, joined by patient Julie Edwards, challenged a 2018 South Carolina executive order that banned access to federal Medicaid funding for non-abortion health care if a clinic also provided abortions. Edwards reportedly joined the litigation as an impacted patient who had found supportive doctors and care at Planned Parenthood. The decision also comes just days after the third anniversary of the devastating SCOTUS decision in Dobbs. Emboldened by the win, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster defended the policy in a statement issued shortly after the Court's decision, focusing on abortion and not the people who would lose access to necessary healthcare provided by Planned Parenthood. Medicaid already cannot pay for abortions except in very limited circumstances. Writing a stern dissent, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson called out her colleagues in the majority for disregarding existing Supreme Court precedent and 'enforceable right' created by the Medicaid Act's free-choice-of-provider provision. Drawing on history and the Civil Rights Act of 1871, Jackson explained why and how Congress gave private citizens the right to sue to enforce rights made available by the Constitution and other federal laws. In this case, she said that the 'provision states that every Medicaid plan 'must… provide that… any individual eligible for medical assistance (including drugs) may obtain such assistance from any institution, agency, community pharmacy, or person, qualified to perform the service or services required,'' Jackson wrote. 'And Congress reinforced its rights-creating intent by making the provision mandatory—it specifically inserted the word 'must' into the statute—to make clear that the obligation imposed on the States was binding. If Congress did not want to protect Medicaid recipients' freedom to choose their own providers, it would have likely avoided using a combination of classically compulsory language and explicit individual-centric terminology.' In many ways, the decision leaves Medicaid recipients without recourse in states with leadership fixated on defunding Planned Parenthood or otherwise instituting political litmus tests for healthcare. Responding to the decision, South Carolina State Senators Margie Bright Matthews and Tameika Isaas Devine called the ruling a 'gut punch' to those who rely on Planned Parenthood for basic healthcare. 'By allowing the state to block a qualified provider from the Medicaid program, the Court has put politics ahead of public health,' the senators wrote. 'The real price of this decision will be paid by patients, especially Black, Brown, and rural women who now face fewer options and greater barriers to care.' In a statement posted to Instagram, Planned Parenthood called the decision an 'injustice.' 'SCOTUS's decision in Medina v. PPSAT today is a blow to Medicaid patients' freedom to access health care at their chosen provider,' the statement read. 'It also effectively may allow lawmakers to deny people the care they need and trust. Public officials should not decide where or how you get the quality, affordable health care you need.' As noted in a May 2025 policy brief from KFF, defunding Planned Parenthood has been a major aim of anti-abortion groups and policymakers for many years. Nationally, 1 in 3 women reported receiving care at a Planned Parenthood Clinic. According to KFF, an estimated 36% of South Carolina women aged 19 to 64 received Medicaid in 2023. Now, nearly 60 years after Congress established Medicaid, Congressional Republicans propose deep cuts to Medicaid and reproductive health more broadly. The impact of limiting support for reproductive healthcare could have dire implications for Black women and their families. South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Christale Spain called out the denial of healthcare based on an anti-abortion agenda. She noted the increased barrier to treatment for people seeking cancer screenings, STI treatment, contraception, and other preventative care services. 'This case was never about fiscal responsibility; it was about targeting a trusted healthcare provider for purely ideological, partisan reasons,' Spain said. 'Let's call this what it is: an effort to control people's bodies, silence their choices, and limit their options. South Carolinians deserve better.' SEE ALSO: Kendrick Sampson's BLD PWR Teams Up With SisterSong And GBEF For Houston Juneteenth Event Adriana Smith's Family Says Goodbye, Asks For Prayers For Newborn Son SEE ALSO SCOTUS Medicaid Decision Could Defund Planned Parenthood was originally published on
Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Quebec air ambulance company pays homage to four victims of helicopter crash
MONTREAL - The company that operated an air ambulance that crashed on Quebec's North Shore on June 20 is honouring the four victims who perished. Airmedic says three of its crew members died as heroes, along with an American patient. Four crew members and the patient were aboard the Airmedic helicopter when it went down in a remote area north of Natashquan, about 1,000 kilometres northeast of Montreal. The company described the patient as a quiet woman, entirely devoted to her family. One crew member survived, the body of another person was found on Monday, and the other three victims' bodies were recovered by provincial police on Wednesday. The Quebec coroner's office says the victims are Sébastien De Lutio, 50, from Lac-Beauport; Olivier Blouin, 25, from Pont-Rouge; Sébastien Groulx, 50, from Longueuil; and patient Claire Tripp, 78, from the U.S. state of Maine. On its website, Airmedic says its employees were faithful to their mission until the very last moment, and saluted their dedication, courage, and humanity. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Miami Herald
2 hours ago
- Miami Herald
A growing number of shoppers are avoiding this ingredient
Trying to keep up with food and wellness trends feels like a full-time job. It started with organic. Then came gluten-free. Then vegan, non-GMO, Whole30, name it. Grocery store shelves are now a sea of claims, labels, and certifications, each one shouting for attention and promising to be the "cleaner," "better," or "safer" option. Shoppers are flipping packages over, scanning ingredient lists, and thinking twice before tossing something in the cart. Related: Heinz announces a genius new product fans will love They're not just looking for what a product has. They're zeroing in on what it leaves out. And now, a new category of ingredients is getting side-eyed. It's not sugar, gluten, or carbs this time. It's something that weaseled its way into everything from salad dressing to snack that was easy to miss, until now. That rising skepticism paved the way for a new kind of label, one that's now quietly changing what ends up in people's carts. Image source: Getty Images The ingredient getting dragged? Industrial seed oils. Think: canola, soybean, sunflower, and corn. These weren't even part of the American diet a century ago. Now, they can make up over 20% of the average person's daily calories. You'll find them in everything: frozen meals, sauces, baked goods, even "healthy" snacks. They're cheap. They're stable. And they've quietly become a food industry favorite. But not everyone's convinced they belong in our food. Shoppers are starting to question their heavy refining, sky-high omega-6 levels, and ultra-processed vibes. To meet that growing concern, brands are now turning to Seed Oil Free Certified - a label that launched in 2023 but is gaining serious momentum in 2025. Related: Forget the ice cream man, try this healthy take on a summer treat It's the first official certification for products made without industrial seed oils. And the brands who jumped on board are already reaping the benefits. According to a press release, Seed Oil Free Certified products saw a 216% sales spike in Q1 2025 compared to the year prior. Even more eye-popping, these products made a 410% jump in just the most recent 12-week period. And that growth isn't limited to niche wellness aisles. Sales are booming in both natural and conventional retail. What started as a quiet movement is quickly becoming a shelf-shaking trend. For shoppers, the seal keeps things simple. For brands, it's a fast track to standing out. According to the Seed Oil Free Alliance, certified brands are seeing stronger customer interest, better shelf velocity, and real traction with ingredient-conscious buyers. "We've seen firsthand the positive impact it has had on our brand," said Daily Crunch Co-founder Laurel Orley. More on retail: Starbucks changes drink prices (you might like it)Iconic Disney theme park treat comes to grocery storesGeneral Mills makes huge change to your favorite cereals "Displaying the Seed Oil Free Certified seal on our packaging helps customers identify Daily Crunch as a product aligned with their values." And those values are driving real decisions. A recent nationwide survey found that 28% of U.S. consumers are now actively trying to avoid seed oils. They're looking for simpler ingredients, less industrial processing, and more transparency. For brands, it's not just about putting a new label on the front. It's about building trust in an aisle full of noise. And the numbers don't lie: shoppers are buying in. A full list of Seed Oil Free Certified products can be found at Related: The diet mistake 71% of Americans are trying to fix The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
