Minnesota officials have launched a roundtable to deal with federal cuts.
St. Paul, Minnesota — Minnesota officials launched a series of statewide roundtables on Saturday to discuss the potential impact of the proposed federal cuts on Medicaid.
The first roundtable held at St. Paul's Pediatric Minnesota Hospital brought together state officials, doctors, patients and supporters to address concerns about the $880 billion cut proposed for federal cuts in medical programming that currently benefits 1.3 million Minnesotans.
“My medicine is so expensive, so Medicaid coverage really allows us to cover that gap,” said Sumukha Terakanambi, leader of the disability community.
Dr. Farah Kasis Gavami of Minnesota Pediatrics, a child, warned of potential consequences.
“You're going to have a provider that takes on more patients,” she said. “It leads to a long wait for families to access these providers. It will lead to provider burnout. People may leave their profession because they are burning out.”
The Minnesota Department of Human Services estimates that if Medicaid is cut, many Minnesotans could lose access to critical healthcare. While some Republicans argue that spending is needed, Democrats argue that Medicaid is an important social safety net for underserved communities.
Medicaid covers one in five Americans.
The St. Paul Roundtable is the first of several planned projects across the state, with future events scheduled in Duluth, Mankato, Rochester, St. Cloud and elsewhere. These discussions aim to educate Minnesotan on the potential impacts of proposed federal health care reductions.
For more information about the impact, the Human Services Department evaluates Minnesota's Medicaid program website.
