Rep. Bresnahan, colleagues send letter to GOP leadership affirming commitment to Medicaid

WILKES-BARRE — U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr. on Thursday announced he and 11 of his Republican colleagues sent a letter to House Republican Leadership on the signers’ commitment to protecting Medicaid.

Rep. Bresnahan, R-Dallas Township, said the letter was sent to Speaker Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Majority Whip Tom Emmer and Committee on Energy and Commerce Chairman Brett Guthrie.

“We acknowledge that we must reform Medicaid so that it is a strong and long-lasting program for years to come,” wrote Rep. Bresnahan and the lawmakers. “However, we cannot and will not support a final reconciliation bill that includes any reduction in Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations.”

The letter went on to say, “As Members of Congress who helped to deliver a Republican Majority, many of us representing districts with high rates of constituents who depend on Medicaid, we would like to reiterate our strong support for this program that ensures our constituents have reliable healthcare.

“Balancing the federal budget must not come at the expense of those who depend on these benefits for their health and economic security.”

In addition to Rep. Bresnahan, the letter was signed by U.S. Representatives David Valadao, California; Don Bacon, Nebraska; Jeff Van Drew, New Jersey; Juan Ciscomani, Arizona; Jen Kiggans, Virginia; Young Kim, California; Rob Wittman, Virginia; Nicole Malliotakis, New York; Nick LaLota, New York; Andrew Garbarino, New York; and Jeff Hurd, Colorado.

The full letter:

“Dear Speaker Johnson, Majority Leader Scalise, Majority Whip Emmer and Chairman Guthrie:

“As Members of Congress who helped to deliver a Republican Majority, many of us representing districts with high rates of constituents who depend on Medicaid, we would like to reiterate our strong support for this program that ensures our constituents have reliable healthcare. Balancing the federal budget must not come at the expense of those who depend on these benefits for their health and economic security.

“We acknowledge that we must reform Medicaid so that it is a strong and long-lasting program for years to come. Efficiency and transparency must be prioritized for program beneficiaries, hospitals, and states. We support targeted reforms to improve program integrity, reduce improper payments, and modernize delivery systems to fix flaws in the program that divert resources away from children, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and pregnant women – those who the program was intended to help. However, we cannot and will not support a final reconciliation bill that includes any reduction in Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations.

“Cuts to Medicaid also threaten the viability of hospitals, nursing homes, and safety-net providers nationwide. Many hospitals — particularly in rural and under-served areas — rely heavily on Medicaid funding, with some receiving over half their revenue from the program alone. Providers in these areas are especially at risk of closure, with many unable to recover. When hospitals close, it affects all constituents, regardless of healthcare coverage.

“To strengthen Medicaid, we urge you to prioritize care for our nation’s most vulnerable populations. Our constituents are asking for changes to the healthcare system that will strengthen the healthcare workforce, offer low-income, working-class families expanded opportunities to save for medical expenses, support rural and under-served communities, and help new mothers.

“We are committed to working with you to preserve Medicaid and identify responsible savings through deregulation, streamlining federal programs, and cutting administrative red tape. Communities like ours won us the majority, and we have a responsibility to deliver on the promises we made.”