Statement on proposed healthcare funding cuts

We of the Mat-Su Martin Luther King Jr. Foundation, Inc., are deeply concerned about the current legislative efforts to weaken or dismantle government programs that provide essential healthcare access to our most vulnerable citizens. The proposed Medicaid cuts pending in Congress would have devastating consequences for Alaska, where 23% of our population, including children, pregnant women, people with disabilities, seniors, and low-income families, rely on Medicaid/CHIP coverage.

Impact on Alaska's Healthcare System

The consequences of these proposed cuts extend far beyond individual hardship:

- Healthcare institutions will face a financial crisis.

- Facilities required by law to provide emergency care regardless of ability to pay will be severely strained by increased uncompensated care, potentially leading to higher costs for insured patients, reduced services, or facility closures.

- Long-term care facilities may become unsustainable. With 7 out of 9 nursing home residents covered by Medicaid, these proposed cuts threaten the very existence of facilities caring for our most vulnerable seniors and disabled citizens.

- Rural healthcare access will be disproportionately affected. In Alaska's remote communities, where healthcare options are already limited, any reduction in services could eliminate access for many residents.

Broader Pattern of Service Reductions

These Medicaid cuts represent just one component of a troubling trend. We have already witnessed:

- Significant staffing reductions in Veterans' services, Medicare, and Social Security, creating barriers to access, particularly for those without digital literacy

- Ongoing threats to the Affordable Care Act, which has made health insurance accessible to thousands of Alaskans

- Proposed $230 billion in cuts to the Agriculture Committee, likely targeting food assistance programs serving low-income Americans

The Human Cost

The scale of these proposed cuts—$600-800 billion over the next decade—reveals that this is not a minor budget adjustment but a fundamental restructuring that threatens the health and well-being of our communities.

At its core, this issue reflects our values as a society. We believe that every person deserves equal access to basic healthcare that enables them to reach their full potential and alleviates their suffering when faced with illness or injury.

Our Call to Action

We urge our legislators to:

1. Reject these damaging cuts to Medicaid and other essential health programs

2. Protect the healthcare safety net that serves nearly a quarter of Alaska's population

3. Remember that strong, accessible healthcare

Aundra O. Jackson is a member of the Mat-Su Martin Luther King Jr. Foundation, Inc.