ENA Voices Opposition to Devastating Medicaid Cuts

On Tuesday, the Emergency Nurses Association released the following statement from ENA President Ryan Oglesby on the impact of proposed Medicaid cuts to emergency departments and health care in the United States.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee recently passed legislation as part of the federal budget reconciliation package which includes harmful changes to the Medicaid program that would create a devastating ripple effect within health care in the United States and emergency departments across the country.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, approximately 7.6 million people would lose their health coverage based on $625 billion in spending cuts to the program over 10 years. Those changes, which will result in reduced Medicaid enrollment, mean fewer people with access to primary care for everyday illness and chronic medical conditions, leading them to rely in greater frequency on emergency departments which already face immense challenges with long wait times, extensive patient boarding and staffing shortages.

The Emergency Nurses Association firmly believes, without exception, every person is entitled to equitable access to affordable, comprehensive, quality health care regardless of where they live or their socioeconomic status.

Federal data from late 2024 indicated at least 70 million Americans were enrolled in Medicaid which provides health care to primarily vulnerable members of our communities. Looking more specifically at the emergency department, Medicaid covers more than 45 percent of visits by people under the age of 65 and approximately 63 percent of trips to the ED by children, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Stripping Medicaid from economically disadvantaged individuals stands in direct opposition to ENA’s beliefs, as well as the nursing code of ethics emphasis on the role of nurses to promote human health and well-being and eliminating health inequities.

It’s no secret that emergency departments play a vital role as a health care safety net. No one is turned away – and ENA strongly supports EMTALA’s important role in requiring every person is seen.

Medicaid cuts of this magnitude hurt Americans in need of medical coverage and will damage the capabilities of dedicated emergency nurses and other health care workers to provide the best care possible – while further straining their well-being and morale to continue doing their vital work.

ENA will continue to speak strongly against these damaging Medicaid cuts and changes while also encouraging its members, and anyone else who shares these concerns, to use their voice to support important public health programs and those who provide care to patients every day.

- ENA President Ryan Oglesby