The Womxn Project Celebrates the 57th Anniversary of Medicaid/Medicare and calls for the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act
Today 150 million Americans have health coverage because of Medicare and Medicaid. As we celebrate 57 years of Medicare and Medicaid, we know that we can build on their success by passing the Inflation Reduction Act.
The Senate is poised to pass the Inflation Reduction Act which would lower prescription drug prices and health care premiums for millions across the country. The Inflation Reduction Act would improve Medicare by finally enabling negotiations for lower prices on key prescription drugs and by capping out-of-pocket costs for seniors for the first time ever. The legislation would also help over 13 million people afford Affordable Care Act plans during a time when too many people are feeling the squeeze of inflation in their household budgets.
The Womxn Project has advocated for reproductive healthcare, including abortion care, for the last five years. Through our work we have seen the gaps in our health care system, and while Medicaid and Medicare provide important health coverage for Rhode Islanders, there are places where both can be improved. Allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices and capping out-of-pocket expenses for seniors will improve Medicare and make healthcare more affordable for Rhode Islanders.
It is not clear whether closing the Medicaid coverage gap will be in the final package, but we urge Democratic leaders to continue fighting to give people in the twelve states that have not expanded Medicaid a fair opportunity to get the same kind of coverage that people of Rhode Island have had for years. And we in Rhode Island can take this opportunity to improve Medicaid to include health coverage for abortion care.
As we celebrate the anniversary of Medicaid and Medicare, we know that our state and federal leaders can take action to improve Medicaid and Medicare. Congress and the President most get the Inflation Reduction Act passed and in Rhode Island we must work to improve our state Medicaid by passing legislation to ensure it covers abortion care.