All of us have heard of the tense budget negotiating in Washington as our political leaders discuss options for raising the nation’s debt ceiling limit by August 2nd and cutting federal spending to address the deficit. Medicare and Medicaid are under consideration for substantial spending and benefit cuts, including proposals to cut $14 billion in Medicare funding for rural hospitals, reducing the federal Medicaid matching rate to the states, and limiting or eliminating the Medicaid hospital provider fee that supports expansion of coverage to the uninsured and the hospitals that care for the medically vulnerable.

These proposed cuts will disproportionately impact rural and underserved communities, destabilizing rural healthcare providers and facilities and severely limiting access to care in rural Colorado. CRHC has been communicating with Colorado’s members of Congress about the critical role that Medicare and Medicaid play in rural communities and we encourage you to do the same.

Please take a few minutes today and no later than Monday, July 18 to contact Senator Bennet, Senator Udall, and your Representative with this message: “Please oppose deficit plans that cut rural healthcare programs and Medicare funding for rural hospitals. Rural communities rely on these programs and significant cuts will threaten access to care and economic growth in rural Colorado.” Feel free to personalize your message with how Medicare and Medicaid impact your community.

Please contact your legislators by phone and email:

• Senator Michael Bennet, 202.224.5852 (ask for Rohini Ravindran)
• Senator Mark Udall, 877.768.3255 (ask for Jake Swanton)
• Capitol Switchboard, 202.224.3121 (ask for your Representative’s office and to speak with the staff who handles health issues)

Click here for a list of Colorado’s members of Congress and email addresses for their healthcare staff.