In 2017, when Republicans in Congress tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act and cut Medicaid, many doctors, hospitals, and patient advocates came together to fight back. Fast forward to today, and two major groups—the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American Health Care Association (AHCA), which represents nursing homes—are taking a quieter approach as new Medicaid cuts are being discussed.
Now, both groups are focusing their efforts on other issues while still trying to influence Republican lawmakers. The AMA is advocating to reverse a nearly 3% cut to Medicare fees for doctors. Meanwhile, the AHCA is pushing for the repeal of new staffing regulations for nursing homes that were put in place by President Biden.
Rachel Reeves, a spokesperson for the AHCA, highlighted the importance of Medicaid for low-income individuals and those with disabilities. She emphasized that the group is committed to ensuring that lawmakers understand how vital Medicaid is for seniors who depend on it for care. In fact, Medicaid covers more than 60% of nursing home residents.
Despite their efforts, some advocates and Democratic lawmakers are expressing frustration with the AMA and AHCA for not being more vocal against the proposed Medicaid cuts. Senator Ron Wyden, a prominent Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, has urged these organizations to take a stand. He pointed out that Americans will remember which groups fought against harmful cuts when this debate is over.
Medicaid, along with the Children’s Health Insurance Program, serves around 80 million people in the U.S. As Congress looks to make significant cuts to federal spending—potentially threatening Medicaid—many advocates are concerned about the impact on vulnerable populations, including children and low-income seniors.
Recently, over 400 pediatricians and more than 100 leaders from safety-net hospitals visited Washington, D.C., to advocate for Medicaid. Other groups, like the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, have also defended the program. They warn that cutting billions from Medicaid would force states to either reduce essential services or increase taxes.
Historically, building coalitions has been crucial in healthcare debates. Ron Pollack, who helped lead the push for the Affordable Care Act, noted that past successes came from united efforts. In 2017, the AMA and AHCA were key players in opposing the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, sending multiple letters to Congress to express their concerns about the potential consequences of such actions.
This year, however, the AMA has not publicly opposed any Medicaid cuts. Instead, it has focused on physician fees, issuing several news releases on that topic. Similarly, the AHCA only recently defended Medicaid after House Republicans moved forward with a budget resolution that threatens its funding. In their latest policy priorities, the AHCA has made staffing issues their top concern, with protecting Medicaid coming in second.
As the debate over Medicaid continues, advocates are calling for more voices to join the fight. Senator Wyden reminded everyone that silence can be seen as agreement. If healthcare organizations do not speak out against proposed cuts, lawmakers may assume they support those plans.