WASHINGTON – Today, the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) released the following statement on President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2020 budget outline.
The budget outline shows that the Trump Administration has continued its attacks on affordable health care by slashing spending for health. In addition to budget cuts to health programs, including nearly $1.5 trillion in Medicaid and $845 billion in Medicare over the next 10 years, the budget would block grant Medicaid and add work requirements and new restrictions for immigrants. It also repeals the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as we know it. Not only is this an attack on our nation’s most vulnerable, but it will increase health disparities for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders who have disproportionately benefited from the ACA’s coverage expansions. These cuts undermine health equity and are even more concerning given President Trump has proposed to shift money from public health resources to pay for the Administration’s inhumane immigration policies.
APIAHF will review the more detailed budget as it is released in the coming days, including how the Administration plans address funding for racial health disparities which contribute toward $93 billion in excess medical costs annually.