Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Ill., visited Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana on Friday as part of a district-wide tour focused on protecting Medicaid.
Budzinski warned $880 billion in proposed cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, backed by President Donald Trump and Republican members of Congress, would strain rural hospitals and threaten care for working families.
“I’ve been visiting with either health centers or hospitals directly to talk to them about some of the proposals that are happening in Washington,” Budzinski said. “Specifically, my concerns (center) around cuts to Medicaid … and the pressure that’s going to put on hospitals like Carle.”
Trump has publicly promised to protect Medicaid and Medicare. But Budzinski said those claims don’t line up with the congressional budget resolution passed by the House in February and later adopted by the Senate which includes sweeping reductions to both programs.
“They’re talking a lot about fraud and abuse … but Medicaid is one of the most regulated systems,” Budzinski said. “There are already very severe penalties … What they’re proposing is very, very deep, draconian cuts to a system that has already had a lot of pressure placed on it.”
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The congresswoman also raised the alarm over $230 billion in proposed cuts to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. She said Republican talking points misrepresent the beneficiaries of the program.
“SNAP is actually predominantly working people,” Budzinski said. “If they’re going to cut $230 billion … this is gonna have a ripple effect … hurting working people — the same working people that he (Trump) said on day one he was going to be out there trying to help and support.”
The cuts, she warned, would be especially damaging to areas like Decatur, Illinois, where she said a large proportion of residents rely on Medicaid. Health systems in parts of Budzinski’s district are already operating under financial strain.
“These are seniors, these are mothers, these are children, these are families,” Budzinski said. “They really truly are only getting access to healthcare because of their access to Medicaid.”
