Budget battle in Washington raising concerns in the Hudson Valley about Medicaid
Democrats say a measure passed in the House could lead to cut from Medicaid. Rep. Mike Lawler, who voted for the measure, says there's other areas that the resolution focuses on.
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A budget battle shaping in Washington raising concerns in the Hudson Valley.
"These cuts will hurt those who can least afford care," says Michael Davoli, with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.
Democrats say a measure passed in the House could lead to cut from Medicaid.
But Rep. Mike Lawler, who voted for the measure, says there's other areas that the resolution focuses on.
"The word Medicaid is not even mentioned in the budget resolution," says Lawler. "The focus of the reconciliation bill is on a number of fronts. No. 1, to secure the border. No. 2, to strengthen our military, No 3., to increase domestic production of energy."
But Democrats say the GOP-led budget plan calls for at least $880 billions in cuts and families who rely on it could be affected.
"Over 7 million New Yorkers rely on Medicaid as a lifeline," says Gov. Kathy Hochul.
According to Sen. Chuck Schumer, 678,375 people use Medicaid and 242,302 in Rockland and Westchester counties alone.
The Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation serves patients all over the Hudson Valley. They say if there are cuts, they're expecting a big increase in people asking for help.
"We don't receive any federal money or state money, we raise it all ourselves so that we can give it away to anyone in the nine counties of the Hudson Valley who's in treatment for breast cancer," says Pari Forood, executive director of the Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation.
Lawler says his message is clear.
"We're not taking away benefits from people who need them, but people who abuse the system, people who are not entitled to these services, but are getting them, that should be rooted out," he says.
