Miller joins fellow public officials in defending Medicaid for Pennsylvanians amidst proposed federal funding cuts
Rep. Dan Miller February 28, 2025 | 2:08 PM
HARRISBURG, Feb. 28 – State Rep. Dan Miller, D-Allegheny, today was joined by U.S. Reps. Chris Deluzio and Summer Lee, and other state lawmakers, Allegheny County officials and advocates to discuss how proposed changes to Medicaid at the federal level, if enacted, could decimate services across the board and lead to a health care crisis in Pennsylvania and beyond.
Congressional House Republicans on Tuesday narrowly advanced the Trump administration’s plan to cut federal spending by some $2 trillion, which could lead to more than $800 billion in cuts to Medicaid over the next decade.
“Medicaid is an essential, life-sustaining program,” Miller said. “It helps millions of low-income people, supporting disability and mental health services, providing nursing home care, covering Medicare costs and much more. It helps Democrats, Republicans, and independents alike, and promises must be kept.”
Medicaid covers approximately 3 million Pennsylvanians in every county in the state, including some 246,877 in Allegheny County.
“Let’s be clear: the state cannot backfill Medicaid,” Miller continued. “Dollars misappropriated need to be redeployed no doubt, but any elimination of federal support in this regard risks a humanitarian crisis. The thousands of Pennsylvanians languishing on waiting lists for help deserve better than having the rug pulled out from underneath them.”
Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato noted the impact of federal cuts on county residents and the regional health system.
“With more than 200,000 adults and 100,000 children in Allegheny County enrolled in Medicaid, cuts to this vital program would be devastating,” Innamorato said. “Medicaid helps some of our most vulnerable people, including more than 80% of Kane Regional Care Center patients and more than 90% of the children enrolled in the child welfare system. Cuts to Medicaid will only hurt people who need help the most. It would also be financially devastating for hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and other health providers who serve our community. It is unacceptable to put our most vulnerable people and entire health system at risk because federal leaders want tax cuts for the richest people in America.”
Miller is encouraging residents to contact their federal lawmakers to let them know of the importance of Medicaid to people and the county’s health care system.