WASHINGTON, DC -- The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released an estimate today highlighting that the Medicaid portions of the House Republican billionaires-first tax bill would lead to 10.3 million Americans losing coverage under the health safety net program and 7.6 million people going uninsured.

U.S. Senator Jack Reed stated:

“Congress should be working together to make heath care better and more affordable.  Instead, Republicans are working on a partisan plan to take it away from low-income children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities.

“Millions of Americans rely on Medicaid for health care coverage.  This CBO report shows that reckless Republican cuts would have devastating consequences for families, communities and states nationwide.  It would leave millions without insurance and cut off access to the care they need.

“The Republican plan would literally take from the working poor, undermining people’s health and financial stability in order to give bigger tax breaks to the wealthiest.” 

Medicaid is a federal program that provides health care to about 70 million low-income Americans in partnership with state governments.

Senator Reed also noted that any so-called ‘savings’ from Republican Medicaid cuts would ultimately drive up the cost of care and lead to higher future spending on more expensive care down the road.