Latest news with #ExecutiveOrder14218
The Hill
02-07-2025
- Health
- The Hill
Medicaid cuts could save thousands of lives
'A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes,' goes the well-known saying often attributed to Mark Twain. There is no better demonstration of this wisdom than today's falsehoods about Medicaid cuts that are reported, repeated, reposted and retweeted, even as the truth gets but a few eyeballs. NBC News recently predicted, 'Proposed Medicaid cuts could lead to thousands of deaths.' Other mainstream media claimed similar dire consequences while conflating loss of Medicaid coverage with loss of access to a physician's services. Yet it should be well-known by now that coverage does not equal care. For optimal decision-making, physicians and patients need an accurate picture of reality, not ideologically driven disinformation and unscientific statements bruited by the media and government officials. False narratives and fake news cannot be left unchallenged, and that includes the dramatic claims that proposed cuts would 'devastate our healthcare system.' The Trump administration seeks to make three modifications in the current Medicaid program: cutting illegal immigrants from the program; reducing federal contributions to Medicaid; and adding work requirements for able-bodied adults. On Feb. 19, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14218, 'Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders,' which began a process of removing illegal residents from all forms of taxpayer-funded social, financial and medical (Medicaid) support. States like California and Oregon have made more than 1 million illegals eligible for Medicaid coverage, even though federal laws prohibits their enrollment. The House version of the budget reconciliation bill cut 13 percent from the Medicaid budget over 10 years, $863 billion from an estimated $7 trillion outlay. Detractors assume the cuts will come from insurance coverage support, implying reduced care. But what about cutting non-clinical, regulatory spending? From 1970 to 2020, Congress implemented Medicare and Medicaid and passed the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act of 1986; the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995; the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996; and the Affordable Care Act of 2010, along with other lesser-known laws and numerous healthcare provisions buried in annual Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Acts. During those 50 years, while the physician supply increased 100 percent, the number of healthcare bureaucrats (who provide no clinical care) increased by 4,400 percent. This massive expansion of the nonclinical workforce diverted trillions of dollars from patient care to federal bureaucracy, unnecessary rules and regulations, directives, enforcement, and noncompliance activities. In fact, half of the $4.8 trillion the U.S. spent on healthcare in 2024 produced no medical care at all. The massive increase in bureaucratic spending was matched by a corresponding expansion of the regulatory burden imposed on care providers, both individuals and institutions. Not only did the expanded bureaucratic expense suck money away from patient care, it took doctors' time away from patients to comply with administrative paperwork. In 2024, Washington spent $584 billion on Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program. Presumably, some $292 billion went to bureaucracy taken from patient care. With a goal of cutting Medicaid by about $86 billion a year, removing illegal immigrants from enrollment per Executive Order 14218 would save approximately $10 billion. Regulatory reform such as block grants and DOGE-like bureaucratic simplification should easily cut the remaining $76 billion without impacting patient care at all — unless regulations are more important than people. As enrollment in Medicaid goes up and spending on both insurance and pointless bureaucracy increases, money to pay for patient care goes down. This produces longer wait times for care; the average maximum wait time to see a primary care physician was 132 days in 2022, a 33 percent increase since Obamacare. This inverse relationship – enrollment up, access to care down – is called the seesaw effect. So-called 'news' reporting reached a new low when the leftist website Vox described Medicaid as a 'rare bright spot' in U.S. healthcare. In fact, enrollees are experiencing death-by-queue, documented in Medicaid and Tricare. Patients wait so long for care, they often succumb to treatable illness while waiting in line for care that never comes. Even a one-month delay increases mortality in cancer. Imagine the effect of 132 days before seeing the doctor. Between 2019 and 2023, 20 million Americans were added to Medicaid rolls. Most were not medically vulnerable — they were healthy adults, thrown out of work by Joe Biden's COVID lockdowns. More than 60 percent of these have returned to work, and most are eligible for employer-supported health insurance. When Newsweek warns that 'millions could lose health insurance' with Medicaid cuts, these are people who shouldn't have Medicaid in the first place. Cutting them will release money that can be used for those who truly need a medical safety net. Medicaid cuts could make the seesaw reverse its path. Reduced enrollment and cuts to non-clinical spending could shorten wait times, make care more accessible, and reduce death-by-queue. No one in the media has reported this potential benefit from cuts to Medicaid. Work requirements are also a proposed modification to Medicaid. When work requirements were added to then-President Clinton's entitlement reform bill, the Patient Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reform Act of 1996, opponents emulated Chicken Little, crying that there would be 'blood in the streets' and children would starve to death. They were wrong. Outcomes data 20 years later showed improvement in every fiscal, employment, nutritional and social metric. A full 60 percent were able to get off the welfare rolls. Today's opponents of work requirements are making dire but similarly false predictions. Modifications to the Medicaid program will do the opposite of the left's doomsday predictions. Instead of 'Medicaid cuts could lead to thousands of deaths,' the NBC headline should read, 'Medicaid cuts could save thousands of lives.' Deane Waldman, M.D., MBA, is professor emeritus of pediatrics, pathology, and decision science; former director of the Center for Healthcare Policy at Texas Public Policy Foundation; former director of New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange; and author of 13 books, including his latest: 'Empower Patients – Two Doctors' Cure for Healthcare.'
Business Upturn
06-06-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
Administrator Loeffler Applauds House Passage of 'Save SBA from Sanctuary Cities Act'
By GlobeNewswire Published on June 6, 2025, 03:45 IST WASHINGTON, June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, Kelly Loeffler, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) applauded the U.S. House of Representatives' bipartisan passage of H.R. 2931, the Save SBA from Sanctuary Cities Act of 2025, which will support the agency's decision to relocate SBA field offices out of sanctuary jurisdictions that refuse to comply with federal immigration law. 'By harboring criminal illegal aliens, sanctuary cities jeopardize both the lives of American citizens and the livelihoods of our small businesses — which is exactly why the SBA is moving our field offices out of these lawless jurisdictions and into safer, more accessible communities that comply with federal law,' said Administrator Loeffler. 'This Administration is committed to ending the illegal invasion of our nation – and I am grateful for the bipartisan group of House lawmakers who voted in support of that agenda by passing the Save SBA from Sanctuary Cities Act of 2025.' In March, the SBA announced it would relocate six of its regional offices out of sanctuary cities, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, New York City, and Seattle. This decision was undertaken not only in support of President Donald J. Trump's Executive Order 14218 ending the taxpayer subsidization of open borders, but also as part of SBA's commitment to relocating field offices to safer, less costly, and more accessible communities. Under the leadership of Administrator Loeffler, the SBA has taken numerous steps to put American citizens first. Earlier this year, the agency announced it would require SBA loan applications to include a citizenship verification provision to ensure only legal, eligible applicants have access to taxpayer-funded SBA loan programs. Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. GlobeNewswire provides press release distribution services globally, with substantial operations in North America and Europe.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Administrator Loeffler Applauds House Passage of 'Save SBA from Sanctuary Cities Act'
H.R.2931 supports SBA decision to relocate field offices out of sanctuary jurisdictions WASHINGTON, June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Kelly Loeffler, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) applauded the U.S. House of Representatives' bipartisan passage of H.R. 2931, the Save SBA from Sanctuary Cities Act of 2025, which will support the agency's decision to relocate SBA field offices out of sanctuary jurisdictions that refuse to comply with federal immigration law. 'By harboring criminal illegal aliens, sanctuary cities jeopardize both the lives of American citizens and the livelihoods of our small businesses — which is exactly why the SBA is moving our field offices out of these lawless jurisdictions and into safer, more accessible communities that comply with federal law,' said Administrator Loeffler. 'This Administration is committed to ending the illegal invasion of our nation – and I am grateful for the bipartisan group of House lawmakers who voted in support of that agenda by passing the Save SBA from Sanctuary Cities Act of 2025.' In March, the SBA announced it would relocate six of its regional offices out of sanctuary cities, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, New York City, and Seattle. This decision was undertaken not only in support of President Donald J. Trump's Executive Order 14218 ending the taxpayer subsidization of open borders, but also as part of SBA's commitment to relocating field offices to safer, less costly, and more accessible communities. Under the leadership of Administrator Loeffler, the SBA has taken numerous steps to put American citizens first. Earlier this year, the agency announced it would require SBA loan applications to include a citizenship verification provision to ensure only legal, eligible applicants have access to taxpayer-funded SBA loan programs. CONTACT: SBA HQ Press Team U.S. Small Business Administration press_office@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Secretary Rollins shares her '100 days' accomplishments
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – With the Trump Administration marking its 100 days, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins decided to share her accomplishments. She says the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has worked to support American farmers and ranchers on the southern border, hold Mexico accountable to the agreements it has made with the United States and 'ensure' illegal immigrants do not receive federal benefits. 'President Trump has reversed the status quo on immigration policy. He is fighting to secure the border and hold countries like Mexico accountable for years of mistreatment against the United States. Farmers and ranchers along the southern border have been on the frontlines of Mexico's unfair policies, and at USDA, I have been at the negotiating table tirelessly advocating for American agriculture. I am putting Farmers First—not illegal immigrants,' said Secretary Rollins. Dairy industry pledges to remove artificial colors in school meals Sec. Rollins has announced Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services John Walk issued guidance to all state agencies directing them to ensure that illegal immigrants do not receive federal benefits. The guidance requires enhanced identity and immigration verification practices when determining eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and is one of many steps toward fulfilling President Trump's Executive Order 14218, Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders. Over the weekend, Sec. Rollins said she sent a letter to her counterpart in Mexico demanding Mexico 'eliminate impediments' on aircraft operations and landings that are 'critically impairing' the U.S. response to combat the ongoing spread of the New World Screwworm across Mexico, thereby preventing it from entering the United States. In addition, Secretary Rollins continues to negotiate Mexico's compliance with the 1944 Water Treaty for which they have allegedly fallen short of their water delivery commitments. As part of that, Secretary Rollins announced a $280 million grant agreement between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) to provide 'critical economic relief' to eligible Rio Grande Valley farmers and producers suffering from Mexico's 'ongoing failure' to meet its water delivery obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty. The letter can be viewed below. nws-letter-mexicoDownload 'Eyewitness News. Everywhere you are.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Trump admin freezes Title X funding to Planned Parenthood in Oklahoma
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — The Trump administration is withholding tens of millions of dollars from federal family planning funding. Planned Parenthood Great Plains (PPGP) was informed on Monday that the Trump administration has put Title X funds to Planned Parenthood health centers in Missouri and Oklahoma on hold. 'It's really unfortunate that in this moment, politics is overshadowing the critical care that we offer,' said Emily Wales, president and CEO of PPGP. PPGP says the decision could have a big impact on Oklahomans and their health. 'You're taking a vulnerable population and making them even more vulnerable to complications and risk of death,' said Dr. Dana Stone, OBGYN. Title X is the nation's only federal program helping low income communities access sexual and reproductive care. 'Title X has been around for decades and it's really a unique program in that it's had bipartisan support to ensure that low income communities are able to access contraception, STI testing and healthcare,' said Wales. Title X funding cannot be used for abortion care. 'Planned Parenthood in Oklahoma can't do abortions any longer anyway. It's illegal in the state, so none of that goes to support any abortion care in the state,' said Dr. Stone. Dr. Stone believes Oklahomans will suffer. DOGE-OK releases first report, plans to return $157M in federal health grants 'High rates of unplanned pregnancy and complications of pregnancy as a result. They also do a lot of sexually transmitted infection screening and Oklahoma's one of the higher states in those rates,' said Dr. Stone. Cancers could also go undetected. 'Oklahoma already has high rates of cervical cancer. As soon as you don't have those pap smear screenings, we see higher rates of cervical cancer. People get clinical breast exams with these funds as well,' said Dr. Stone. The notice from the Trump Administration is requesting information to evaluate possible violations of grant terms with the President's Executive Order 14218, 'Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders.' The order declares that undocumented immigrants are prohibited from obtaining most taxpayer-funded benefits. PPGP now has to respond to the Trump Administration. 'We have to provide some information about our investment in health equity and trying to make sure that people have access to critical services, no matter where they live, no matter their race or sexual orientation,' said Wales. The administration will then decide if the funding is terminated. 'If at some point we are notified that we're not in the program, we will communicate that to patients, but even then, Planned Parenthood isn't going anywhere,' said Wales. Planned Parenthood will continue to explore other resources to continue providing financial support. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
