A letter sent by our country’s mayors to lawmakers in Washington last week spotlighted how cuts to Medicaid will make our communities less safe.
Written by The United States Conference of Mayors, the letter was a warning to lawmakers who are finalizing a bill that could decimate Medicaid. The mayors wrote that slashing the program would lead to more crime and reduce emergency services.
“The cuts being considered by Congress will not only hurt Medicaid beneficiaries and our health system but also jeopardize public safety and the progress we have made in reducing violent crime,” according to the nonpartisan group, which represents 1,400 cities.
The mayors wrote that cuts and eligibility changes to Medicaid will lead to an exponential increase in people suffering from mental health crises, substance abuse addiction, housing instability and more. Officers would need to attend to them, leaving fewer personnel and resources to prevent and solve violent crime.
“Our police officers and EMTs are often the first on the scene when someone is experiencing a mental health crisis, struggling with addiction or suffering from a preventable health condition that has gone untreated,” the mayors wrote. “Without access to the ongoing care that Medicaid provides, these challenges grow more severe, more dangerous, and more costly for local governments.”
The letter also described how Medicaid plays a critical role in promoting public safety. It provides treatment for substance use and behavioral health, which reduces 911 traffic, emergency room visits and jail bookings.
Medicaid also reduces recidivism, protects first responders and promotes safer neighborhoods. At the same time, Medicaid supports people experiencing homelessness by providing health care and other services to them.
“If these services are reduced or eliminated, we may well see an increase in homelessness, and that may also lead to an increase in violent crime,” the mayors said.
They note that Medicaid is not just a health program. Rather, it is “a vital public safety tool.”
Join the fight to protect public safety and emergency services by Getting Organized.
AFSCME is fighting these and other cuts through its Get Organized campaign. AFSCME GO is about making sure that everyone understands what’s at stake in this fight. It’s about standing up to the billionaires and anti-union extremists trying to steal our power, and defeating any efforts to gut key programs including Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security.