Cuts to Medicaid, an option the new congressional “super committee” may consider, could pose a specific and dangerous threat to tens of thousands of Iowans who depend on the program for regular treatment of such medical conditions as cancer, diabetes, chronic lung disease, heart disease, and stroke. Without Medicaid, many of these seriously-ill Iowans would no longer be able to fill essential prescriptions, keep up with key screenings, or see a doctor if their condition worsens or reoccurs.

A new report will be released Thursday, September 22, 2011, detailing the importance of Medicaid to Iowans. The report will be released jointly by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the American Diabetes Association, the American Lung Association, and the health care consumer group Families USA.

The report will provide state-specific information on the number of children, adults, and seniors in Iowa who rely on Medicaid for treatment of:

• cancer,
• diabetes,
• chronic lung diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis, and
• heart disease or stroke.

A teleconference for Iowa media will be held on Thursday, September 22, 2011, to discuss the new Medicaid report.

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