June 23rd, 2017 by WCBC Radio

Today, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) released the following letter from the Maryland Hospital Association, which strongly urges the Senators to oppose the Republican health care plan and specifically cites the damaging cuts to Medicaid. “As the backbone of our nation's health safety net, Maryland’s hospitals and health systems believe it's vital that coverage be protected, particularly for our most vulnerable. Please protect the health of hundreds of thousands of Marylanders by preserving their coverage, and reject any legislation that would sacrifice coverage for a budgetary or political victory,” writes President and CEO Carmela Coyle.

 

The Maryland Hospital Association letter details the cuts in the House Republican bill that has been scored by the Congressional Budget Office – and in many respects, the Senate Republican health care plan released this week that is worse for Maryland families. After seeing the House Republicans craft a bill that would kick 14 million enrollees off Medicaid due to funding cuts of $834 billion, Senate Republicans doubled down and opted for even deeper cuts in their version.