Rep. Scott hosts Medicaid roundtable in Norfolk

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Rep. Bobby Scott hosted a roundtable discussion Tuesday on possible cuts to Medicaid.

President Trump and House Republicans’ proposed budget includes up to $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid.

“”House Republicans and President Trump have made their intentions clear,” Scott said.
“They’re going to try to cut the Medicaid program.”

The proposal includes $880 billion in cuts to the two programs under the jurisdiction of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

“House Republicans and President Trump have made their intentions clear,” Scott said.
They’re going to try to cut the Medicaid program. The proposal includes $880 billion in cuts to the two programs under the jurisdiction of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.”

In Virginia, Medicaid provides health coverage to 1.4 million residents, or 17.1% of all Virginians. This includes more than 124,000 children under the age of 19, and 17,000 seniors over the age of 65.

During the discussion, Scott got an earful as to what Medicaid covers, and the detrimental effect that cuts could have in Virginia.

“We pay for the foster care, children’s health care, with Medicaid,” Scott said. “There are so many aspects, particularly in maternal and child health emergency coverage.”

There are a lot of programs and services that Medicaid covers, but it can also be that lifeline that helps make ends meet.

“Anyone who has Medicaid, if you lose it, will lose their preventative care,” said Dr. Ben Blackwood of Sentara Health. “People with disabilities will lose the subsidies that they have there. … You’re not talking about just like one small patient population. You’re talking about people from newborns all the way to people who are elderly losing the coverage that they need.”

While many are taking a wait-and-see attitude, the only thing certain now is the devastating effect that losing Medicaid benefits would have in Virginia.