As congressional leaders deliberate on potentially unprecedented cuts to Medicaid, a new report from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families (CCF) and the Small Business Majority underscores the crucial role that Medicaid plays for small businesses across the United States. This report reveals that approximately one-third of Medicaid enrollees include owners, employees, and family members associated with small businesses, which encompass diverse sectors such as childcare, hospitality, construction, and home health services.
This intersection of Medicaid and small business viability is set to be further explored during an upcoming webinar hosted by Georgetown University CCF and the Small Business Majority. The session aims to dissect the implications of federal Medicaid cuts on healthcare access for small business owners and their employees. A poignant case study will be provided by Janna Rodriguez, the owner of Innovative Daycare Corp in Freeport, New York. Rodriguez will discuss firsthand how cuts to Medicaid might impact not only her operations but also the families that rely on her services.
The webinar will feature prominent voices in the discussion:
– Joan Alker, Executive Director of the Georgetown University CCF and lead author of the report, will provide insights based on extensive research and data. Alker’s work focuses on the intersection of public policy and healthcare access, emphasizing the importance of sustaining support for vulnerable populations.
– David Chase, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy for the Small Business Majority, will shed light on the broader implications of Medicaid funding cuts for small business sustainability and employee health coverage, emphasizing the intertwined fates of healthcare policy and economic resilience for small enterprises.
– Janna Rodriguez, as a practical example of a small business owner impacted by these policy discussions, will share stories that illustrate the real-world consequences of health policy shifts.
The event will be moderated by Anne Dwyer from Georgetown CCF, ensuring a structured dialogue that connects research findings with practical business realities.
The urgency of these discussions is underscored by the current healthcare landscape, where rising costs and access barriers create significant challenges for small businesses. Given that quality healthcare is a crucial factor in employee retention and productivity, any alterations to Medicaid could have reverberating effects on both small business stability and the communities they serve.
In summary, as the debate around Medicaid cuts intensifies, this collaboration between Georgetown University CCF and the Small Business Majority serves as a pivotal platform for advocating the needs of small businesses, promoting a deeper understanding of how federal health policy may shape their future.
