Magaziner Visits South County Hospital to Meet with Health Care Providers on Affordability Crisis

WAKEFIELD, RI - Today U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) visited South County Hospital in Wakefield to meet with health care providers. The discussion focused on the urgent need to address rising health care costs as Congress considers whether to include continued health care funding in the federal budget.

The visit comes as Magaziner continues to push the Republican-controlled Congress and White House to confront the health care affordability crisis in a government funding spending agreement, including calling for a reversal of nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts passed in July the extension of critical Affordable Care Act tax credits set to expire at the end of this year.

This week and last, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson canceled scheduled votes even as the government shutdown continues and the health care crisis remains unaddressed. Today's event followed Magaziner's visits last week to Kent Hospital and the Tri-CountyCommunity Action Agency to highlight the need for Congress to return to Washington to address the health care affordability crisis. During today's event, Magaziner reaffirmed his commitment to reopening the government, protecting health care for Rhode Islanders, and passing a budget that ends the shutdown.

"We need urgent action to lower costs, protect the health care system, and reopen the government," said Magaziner. "Instead of addressing the health care affordability crisis facing Rhode Islanders, President Trump and House Republicans have shut down the government and extended their vacation. I am here to hear directly from local health care providers about how Medicaid cuts and the loss of critical Affordable Care Act tax credits will impact all Rhode Islanders, and call for urgent action to bring down costs."

"Federal policy changes, including cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, will significantly affect how healthcare is delivered across Rhode Island. It is critical for residents to specifically understand that these cuts will directly impact hospitals' and healthcare systems' ability to provide the access to care they have come to rely on. While the uncertainty is concerning-especially for community hospitals and the patients we serve-South County Health remains committed to working with our state and federal delegations to advocate for policies that strengthen, not weaken, local access to care," said Aaron Robinson, President & CEO, South County Health.

You can view or download photos from the event here.

BACKGROUND

This event comes as Affordable Care Act tax credits are set to expire at the end of this year unless Congress acts to keep them in place. The credits currently help 22 million Americans, including more than 40,000 Rhode Islanders who have commercial insurance plans through HealthSource RI, afford their health coverage.

During the event, Magaziner emphasized that if tax credits expire, Rhode Islanders will face steep premium increases, and the loss of federal health care funding will ripple through the health care system, impacting hospitals and providers and raising health insurance costs for everyone.

In addition, health care costs are rising due to deep cuts to Medicaid passed by Congressional Republicans earlier this year, which will kick 15 million people off their health insurance. All these factors are contributing to a health care affordability crisis that is now compounded by a government shutdown.