Do we save the federal budget or do we save the citizens?

Do we save the federal budget or do we save the citizens? By: Ellie Dorsey - YMCA Arlington - Yorktown 

A bill was brought to the Old Dominion Senate concerning the requirements for able-bodied recipients receiving medical assistance from the government. This amendment states that an individual over the age of 18 needs to be employed for at least 20 hours per week in order to receive medical assistance. There are provisions stated in the amendment that exclude students attending secondary school, sole caregivers of children under the age of 6, and citizens physically or mentally unable to work.  

According to the National Public Radio, “federal and state spending on Medicaid in 2015 was about $545 billion, almost one-tenth of the $3.7 trillion federal budget”. The numbers have only increased from there as health costs rise and more people become eligible as the program expands. A 2015 study conducted on public health insurance states that “1 in 5 people in the country” are being supported by public health insurance (U.S. News). Despite recent efforts by the current presidential administration to cut back on the number of people covered and the government money spent, medical assistance programs have only broadened in the recent years.  

 

Sydney Harmon, Kenston Forest School, argued this bill in committee where it was struck down on Thursday night. Her bill proved to be incredibly controversial and therefore generated great debate in the public safety committee. The major problem of this bill was that she had no health care alternatives to those who were unable to meet the standards of employment. When asked about the benefits of this bill, Senator Harmon answered with, “this amendment will make people work and there are no downsides to that”. 

A staunch opponent to this bill, Anna Trainum, YMCA Arlington-Yorktown, voiced her opinion about the major concerns that this amendment presents. When asked if she believed in any part of this bill, she responded with a definite “No”. Senator Trainum adds that the current presidential administration in Washington would agree with this amendment because they have “clearly shown many times that health care to them is about the money and making it as cheap and exclusive as possible”.  

  

Kodjak, Alison. “From Birth To Death, Medicaid Affects The Lives Of Millions.” NPR, NPR, 27 June 2017, www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/06/27/534436521/from-birth-to-death-medicaid-affects-the-lives-of-millions. 

“Medicaid Enrollment Surges Across the U.S.” U.S. News & World Report, U.S. News & World Report, www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/02/24/medicaid-enrollment-surges-across-the-us.