If this budget were to pass, the 7 million low-income citizens (or ⅕ of all Americans) that depend on Medicaid would be in incredible danger of losing the only healthcare can afford. Since work requirements on able-bodied adults who were enrolled in Medicaid were enforced in the state of Arkansas, over 18,000 Arkansans have lost their Medicaid coverage. This leaves the most vulnerable people of our country, like the seniors, children, and the disabled, at a major risk of injury. An example of a major cut to the medicaid branch is the N.I.H, or the National Cancer Institution, which would be cut from $897 billion to $5.2 billion, or by 14.6%.
What is your opinion on the budget cuts to Medicaid? Is it cruel to deny American citizens the right to free or affordable health care? Are lower- income states, like Arkansas, more entitled to Medicaid or should everyone have equal opportunity?
Interesting questions! I propose that the best fit for everyone (goes for everything, usually, but in this case Medicaid/state laws) is individualized to that person (or state's) specific needs. This should be done with utmost respect for the others, treating all as equally valuable but realizing that all have different needs that should be addressed a little differently to be the most effective and efficient. For instance, by this model, Arkansas and other low-income states should get more Medicaid because there are more people here who need it. In such situations, it would not be fair to the people or effective to dish out the same block grant to each state. It would work better for all if genuine need per state was measured and recorded by population/law professionals and then reported to Congress for the Medicaid money to be divvied up accordingly.
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