President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” is on the House floor this week. If it is passed, there could be some significant cuts made to essential health care providers close to home.
Dozens showed up in downtown Plattsburgh at Trinity Park Wednesday, calling on their elected officials to take a stand for their health care.
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“They’re talking about $800 billion over 10 years,” said phlebotomist Marvin Shaw.
Shaw works at the Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital. He has also been on the other end of the needle. He is a cancer survivor and says he is still alive today thanks to Medicaid.
“One in three kids with cancer use Medicaid in order to afford their treatment,” Shaw said. “This isn’t some abstract financial thing out of D.C., it affects people’s grandparents, people’s co-workers.”
Many, like Shaw, rely on that health care to survive.
“People deserve to live,” said Plattsburgh resident Ben Martin.
The Congressional Budget Office’s latest cost estimate shows that the Senate version of President Donald Trump’s tax and spending cuts package would cut federal Medicaid spending by $1 trillion over the next decade.
“I’m standing for all the people that have to be at work. I’m standing for all the people that can’t be here because they have medical issues” said Martin.
Local officials say that could put up to 12 million lives in jeopardy.
“It’s about the senior citizens. It’s about the child. It’s about the impact it will have on our rural communities,” said Plattsburgh Town Supervisor Michael Cashman. “This is not a big, beautiful bill. This is an attack on rural communities and other communities across the country.”
They say these lives are in the hands of lawmakers in Washington, like New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, calling on her to vote “no” to the bill. She voted in favor of it.
NBC5 reached out to the congresswoman for a statement regarding her vote. Her staff sent one back and said spending as it stands is unsustainable. It reads:
“In New York State alone, an estimated $20 billion is spent on fraudulent Medicaid claims annually. On top of this insurmountable burden resting on the shoulders of hardworking taxpayers.”
Back in Plattsburgh, this group said they do not feel represented by her decision.
“She not only hasn’t represented us, she hasn’t been here. Her office is right over there, I’ve been there five times and she’s never there,” Martin said.
Local officials argue that people will be left behind without access to the treatment and resources they need. They will continue to do their part to make sure that does not happen.
If this bill comes to pass in the House, health officials say they will need to work with the New York State government to get that funding they need.
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How Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ could cut essential health care for millions
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