Medicaid Cuts Could Leave Tens of Thousands of Minnesotans Facing Life-Threatening Health Challenges
(October 3, 2011)—
New report will detail number of Minnesotans with cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and chronic lung disease who depend on Medicaid for treatment
Cuts to Medicaid, an option the new congressional “super committee” may consider, could pose a specific and dangerous threat to tens of thousands of Minnesotans 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 Minnesotans 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 Tuesday, October 4, 2011, detailing the importance of Medicaid to Minnesotans. 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesotans media will be held on Tuesday, October 4, 2011, to discuss the new Medicaid report.
- What: Teleconference and Release of Report, "Medicaid's Impact in Minnesota"
- When: 11 a.m. EDT, 10 a.m. CDT, Tuesday, October 4, 2011
- How: Dial in toll-free: 888-215-6895, Confirmation Code: 1496013
- Who: Allison Miller, Wisconsin Government Relations Director, American Cancer
Society
Luke Benedict, MD, President, Minnesota Community Leadership
Board, American Diabetes Association
Penny Gottier Fena, Executive Director, American Lung Association in
Minnesota
Ron Pollack, Executive Director, Families USA
