Petition asking Crapo to defend Medicaid receives thousands of signatures

A petition letter calling on Sen. Mike Crapo to protect Medicaid during budget negotiations has been delivered to several of Crapo's offices throughout the state, including his Coeur d'Alene office.

The petition garnered 8,548 signatures through grassroots efforts by Idaho Supports Medicaid, a press release from Idaho Voices for Children said. 

The petition letter cites Crapo’s statement from a February column in which he pledged his commitment “to ensuring Idahoans have access to effective, high-quality, affordable health care.” 

"We, the undersigned, urge you to reject the proposed cuts to Medicaid and food assistance in the House budget resolution," the petition letter reads in part. "These cuts would put thousands of Idahoans, including children, seniors, and people with disabilities, at risk."

The House-approved budget resolution calls for $880 billion in Medicaid cuts over 10 years. The petition letter argued that these cuts would devastate the already lean health care services.

Over 136,000 Idahoans use SNAP benefits to be able to afford food, according to the petition letter.

“Medicaid provides health care to over 340,000 Idahoans, and half are children. Funding cuts risk services being eliminated, Idahoans losing coverage and a greater strain on our rural hospitals and clinics, which already struggle to keep their doors open,” said Hillarie Hagen, senior policy associate with Idaho Voices for Children.

While Crapo was in Boise last week, he appeared on The Ranch Podcast and pledged that Medicaid would be maintained without cuts to benefits.

“We were heartened to hear Sen. Crapo’s recent statements assuring that Medicaid recipients won’t be removed from coverage or experience service cuts,” Hagen said.

Crapo could not be reached for comment Monday.