Fact Check: "Medicaid cuts will kill people by reducing access to healthcare."
What We Know
Recent analyses indicate that proposed reductions in Medicaid funding and access could lead to significant negative health outcomes, including increased mortality rates. A peer-reviewed research letter published in The Lancet by investigators from the Keck School of Medicine of USC, Boston University, and the University of Amsterdam suggests that cuts to Medicaid could result in thousands of additional deaths among working-age Americans, alongside financial burdens for hundreds of thousands and delays in necessary medical care for millions (source-1).
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) expanded Medicaid access significantly, and studies have shown that this expansion has been associated with a reduction in mortality rates. For instance, a study highlighted by the New York Times found that poor adults who gained Medicaid coverage after the ACA were 21% less likely to die during a given year compared to those who remained uninsured (source-3).
Moreover, experts predict that cuts to Medicaid could lead to over 51,000 additional deaths annually by decreasing access to healthcare (source-4). The Congressional Budget Office estimates that proposed cuts could result in 7.8 million people losing their Medicaid coverage, exacerbating the already critical situation for low-income individuals who often lack alternative healthcare options (source-2).
Analysis
The evidence presented in various studies and expert analyses strongly supports the claim that Medicaid cuts could lead to increased mortality. The Lancet article, which is peer-reviewed, provides a robust basis for understanding the potential consequences of reduced Medicaid access. The authors extrapolate from existing research to predict that if 15.5 million fewer Americans were covered by Medicaid, it could lead to approximately 14,660 additional deaths among those aged 25 to 64 within a year (source-1).
Additionally, the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health emphasizes that cutting Medicaid would not only affect those enrolled but also the broader healthcare system, particularly in rural areas where hospitals rely heavily on Medicaid funding. The potential closure of these hospitals could leave entire communities without access to essential healthcare services (source-2).
Critically, while the sources cited are reputable and provide a consensus on the negative implications of Medicaid cuts, it is essential to consider the potential for bias. The studies and analyses come from institutions and researchers who may have vested interests in public health outcomes, yet their findings are supported by a substantial body of research indicating the life-saving benefits of Medicaid coverage (source-5).
Conclusion
The claim that "Medicaid cuts will kill people by reducing access to healthcare" is True. The evidence indicates that reductions in Medicaid access are likely to lead to increased mortality rates, financial hardships for many individuals, and delays in necessary medical care. The potential consequences of such cuts are severe, affecting not only those directly enrolled in Medicaid but also the broader healthcare infrastructure and community health outcomes.
Sources
- New research analysis predicts that reductions in Medicaid ... Keck School of Medicine
- Medicaid cuts: What’s at stake | Harvard T.H. Chan School of ... Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
- As Congress Debates Cutting Medicaid, a Major Study Shows It ... New York Times
- How Massive Medicaid Cuts Will Harm People’s Health Scientific American
- Medicaid cuts, mortality, and health-care expenditure in the ... The Lancet
- How Trump bill Medicaid cuts will impact U.S. health care CNBC
- Yale scientists warn Medicaid cuts could cause 51,000 ... Yale Daily News
