Rural communities in Arizona would face some of the biggest consequences if the new, Republican-controlled federal government moves ahead with proposed cuts to state Medicaid programs, according to a new study from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families.
It’s unclear what President Donald Trump intends for the health care program for lower income and disabled Americans. But some Republicans in Congress are reportedly considering imposing work requirements for Medicaid or limiting the amount the federal government pays states for the health care program.
“If the federal government were to come in and cap its contribution, that would leave the state holding the bag for a very untenable situation,” said Joan Alker, executive director of the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. “Arizona will not be able to make up the difference, and this would have a dramatic impact, on not only the health care system, but the state budget writ large.”
Alker co-authored the report that shows rural Arizona communities have the nation’s highest rates of adults covered by Medicaid and among the highest rates of children covered by the program. She said enrollment is especially high among Arizona’s Native American communities and the state’s large population of older adults.
Alker said rural communities already face barriers to health care, so cuts to Medicaid could exacerbate the issue.
“Families in rural areas have lower incomes, people have higher incidence of chronic health conditions, and there are a lot of provider shortages and hospital closures. So these kinds of Medicaid cuts that are being contemplated would really put rural areas at risk,” Alker said.
