Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Whatcom presenters warn House budget Medicaid cuts could strain local behavioral health services
Summary
A presentation to the Whatcom County Behavioral Health Subcommittee said proposed House budget changes — including a possible block grant — could reduce Medicaid funding over a decade and harm local mental‑health and substance‑use services, providers and safety‑net care.
Brian Estes, a member of NAMI Whatcom and the group’s public policy committee, told the Behavioral Health Subcommittee on April 15 that proposed changes in the U.S. House budget could sharply reduce federal Medicaid funding and put local services at risk.
“If the House plan is enacted, Washington may lose $7 billion to $9 billion over a 10‑year period,” Estes said during a presentation to the subcommittee of the Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force. He added that the change could come in the form of block grants and would “put at risk eligibility, benefits and access to health care including mental‑health treatment.”
The presentation…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
