Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
Major U.S. Catholic groups are calling on Congress not to cut Medicaid as Republicans press forward with reconciliation plans.
Why it matters: The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is an influential voice with many Catholics around the country, and there are hundreds of Catholic hospitals in the U.S.
What they're saying: "As you address reconciliation priorities, we urge you to prioritize those most in need and working families and protect the Medicaid program," reads a letter to congressional leaders from the bishops, Catholic Charities and the Catholic Health Association.
- The letter specifically pushes back on the idea of per capita caps and work requirements.
- "Policies like work reporting requirements have shown clear evidence of creating artificial barriers to care, generating paper work and bureaucracy while doing little to support people looking for work," the letter states.
Between the lines: Like other hospitals, Catholic facilities stand to take a financial hit from Medicaid cuts that providers warn would be damaging and could even lead ot some facilities closing down.
- The Catholic Health Association has allied itself with the Partnership for Medicaid, a coalition aimed at strengthening the entitlement program that includes the National Rural Health Association, the Children's Hospital Association and Medicaid health plans.
