Re: “WA homeless patients have a lot to lose under Trump’s Medicaid changes” (Aug. 11, Venture Homeless):
Thanks for masking the harm brought on by Medicaid work necessities. At Neighborcare, we’ve got three clinic applications in Seattle devoted to serving to folks experiencing homelessness discover steady housing and jobs. We do every part we are able to to get folks the care they want by co-locating well being providers in shelters and utilizing outreach groups to deliver care to folks in shelters and everlasting supportive housing settings. We do that as a result of folks want well being care to seek out employment and shelter. Well being care is an onramp to stability and most of our sufferers depend on Medicaid to enhance their lives.
Sadly, the not too long ago handed Medicaid work necessities and cumbersome recertification course of will make our sufferers lose care. Forcing people who find themselves dwelling on the road with out entry to the web to add proof of employment each month places them in an unimaginable place. Work necessities make folks spend time filling out paperwork as an alternative of discovering housing or jobs. Making folks recertify their eligibility each six months additionally implies that individuals are extra prone to lose care halfway by way of therapy — a disruption that usually makes well being points worse.
The spending and tax invoice will put stability out of attain for hundreds of our neighbors.
Andrew Nee, homeless applications supervisor, Neighborcare
