SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Rep. Dave Pinto (DFL – Saint Paul), DFL Lead on the House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Committee, issued the following statement regarding today’s hearing about Medicaid eligibility:
“Fraud against public programs is unacceptable, and we took many steps this past session to continue to improve oversight and program integrity. We must continue that work. At the same time, the most important fact right now about Medicaid eligibility is the number of Minnesotans who are about to lose that eligibility as a result of the actions of Republicans in Washington.
“The cruel Medicaid cuts in the Trump budget that just became law will cause real harm to real people. As many as 250,000 Minnesotans will lose the health coverage that they depend on. They will lose access to care when they are sick or injured. And when they need emergency care - as they surely will - the health system will be forced to charge the rest of us to make up the difference. Meanwhile, hospitals and nursing homes, which are already in financial jeopardy, will lose critical funding - an estimated $500 million annually. That will cost the rest of us too.
“Make no mistake, these cuts aren’t about work requirements; the vast majority of able-bodied adults on Medicaid are already working. No, the federal budget takes away health care for vulnerable people in order to fund tax giveaways for the very richest Americans. This was an unconscionable choice, one that will have negative impacts for years to come.”