Catholic health leaders publicly oppose Medicaid cuts 

SOUTH BEND, Ind.-- In an effort to cut government spending, House Republicans proposed Medicaid cuts to go in President Trump's so-called "big, beautiful bill."

House Speaker Mike Johnson set a Memorial Day deadline to pass the bill, which has a goal of creating $4.5 trillion in tax breaks. The bill includes $880 billion dollars in cuts, which would largely affect Medicaid.

The congressional budget office estimates hundreds of billions in spending cuts, but also predicts more than eight million people will lose their health insurance over the next 10 years.

That has Catholic health leaders ringing alarm bells.

Tuesday, the Catholic Health Association (CHA) hosted a virtual news conference to discuss the matter and oppose these plans.

"Catholic hospitals now care for one in seven patients nationwide, many of whom rely on Medicaid. Protecting and strengthening Medicaid is not just sound policy. It's a moral imperative to ensure access to care for those who need it most," said Sr. Mary Haddad, RSM, president and CEO of CHA.

ABC57's Annie Kate met up with the president of Saint Joseph Health System, Chris Karam. It is under the umbrella of Trinity Health, which is under CHA.

"For them to speak up shows the magnitude of the decision-making that affects our nation, let alone locally," said Karam. "That's why we've been so vocal about ensuring that these cuts don't happen to this level and this magnitude."

"What will really happen with cuts is that people don't fill their prescriptions. Coverage is reduced. Care gets delayed, and then the community is sicker," he continued. "So then, when we do see patients, they really are ill. So, it's really about preserving the health of our community."

He said Medicaid covers 20 percent of their population. Three out of eight babies born, he said, are covered by Medicaid.

In his career, spanning more than three decades, he says he's never seen a bigger threat to healthcare coverage.

"I think the takeaway for our community is contact your legislators. Contact your lawmakers," he said.