The Background: The House of Representatives recently passed a budget resolution that would require significant reductions in federal spending. There is speculation that to meet those savings targets, Congress may look to cut from the Medicaid program. While some lawmakers suggest targeting “waste, fraud, and abuse” in the Medicaid program, it is unclear what would be targeted. More than 70 million Americans rely on Medicaid for access to health care, including many patients with cancer. It is important that Congress safeguard the program for patients with cancer.

Why it Matters: Medicaid serves as a critical lifeline, particularly for vulnerable populations like low-income families and children facing cancer. For these children, Medicaid often provides the only means of accessing life-saving treatments and specialized care. Therefore, any reduction in Medicaid funding or the imposition of work requirements poses a threat to patient care. Due to the demands of cancer treatment, satisfying work requirements may be problematic for patients with cancer and their caregivers, who often need to stop working entirely—or dramatically reduce the number of hours worked—making such requirements an insurmountable barrier to care. 

The Ask: Ask your lawmakers to safeguard Medicaid by opposing any legislation that would reduce federal support for the program, restrict access, or create barriers for cancer patients to receive care.