Medicaid is a vital source of care for millions of people across the country, including children, those with chronic illnesses and/or disabilities, and those who are pregnant or postpartum. But Congress is threatening the stability of this crucial program through its proposed widespread budget cuts.
The House of Representatives passed a bill slashing $880 billion from Medicaid. There is no telling the extent of the damage this would do to the health care system, and to patients and communities here in New York. OB-GYNs like me know that cuts to Medicaid, the critical health care safety net, would be catastrophic for our state. We are deeply afraid of the dangerous consequences these cuts would have on our patients’ lives.
Many of our patients currently rely on Medicaid coverage for their health needs. In fact, Medicaid covers services for pregnant and birthing persons for nearly 50% of all childbirths in the state. It also provides coverage for important preventive services such as screening for cervical and breast cancer, sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS, colorectal cancer, and well-person visits, among others.
For Black populations, like my patients and my family members, this is incredibly important. Health and health care disparities are pervasive within Black communities. For example, Black women are more likely to die of many types of cancer, including breast cancer and cervical cancer — diseases for which we have proven screening and prevention tools.
The disparities in health outcomes throughout pregnancy and childbirth are especially stark. The United States still has the highest maternal mortality rate of any high-income country, and nearly 80% of those deaths are considered preventable. Most of those who die from pregnancy-related causes tragically are Black pregnant and birthing individuals, who die at a rate three times higher than white individuals. Instead of seeing our patients in the emergency room during a crisis, we want to care for them early and consistently — before complications arise, hopefully saving those lives and ensuring that Black birthing people can safely give birth and go home with their babies. Cutting Medicaid would reverse some hard-won progress and put more parents and infants at risk.
In New York State, we have advocated for Medicaid expansion for 12 months postpartum for all individuals. This is incredibly important in New York State, where we have a high population of immigrants. Having Medicaid coverage, particularly during pregnancy, ensures that patients can get prenatal care, care during childbirth, and postpartum care at the most critical time in their lives.
As an OB-GYN who has been in practice in East Harlem, Central Brooklyn, and most recently in the Bronx, this is a huge concern for my patients. In the borough of Brooklyn alone, the risk of maternal mortality is nearly eight times higher than the average for Black patients. If they are not covered throughout their pregnancies, and for the following year when mortality risk is at its highest, many of my patients will be in danger of preventable health complications and deaths.
As Congress moves forward with these ill-advised budget cuts, New Yorkers must unite in opposition. I urge residents to contact our congressional delegation to express unwavering support for Medicaid. Protecting Medicaid is not just about preserving a program, it’s about safeguarding the health and well-being of our neighbors, sustaining our healthcare infrastructure, and ensuring a healthier future for all.
Dr. Camille Clare is a board-certified OB-GYN practicing in the Bronx, New York. She is President Elect of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists