Democratic U.S. Sen. Tina Smith says she some major concerns about the Republican-backed plan that could cut $1.5 trillion in federal spending over the next decade, possibly impacting Medicaid.

Democrats are pushing back over a Republican budget blueprint that could cut $880 billion from Medicaid, which provides health care to 1 in 5 Minnesotans.

The U.S. House on Tuesday, Feb. 25, passed a budget proposal that includes $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and $2 trillion in reduced federal spending over a decade. Among the proposals in the budget to accomplish these tax breaks and spending reductions are proposed cuts to Medicaid and a potential gutting of the Affordable Care Act,

Minnesota’s largest addiction treatment provider tells clients they’ll lose treatment and housing support in 60 days after Medicaid funding cut.

About one in five Minnesotans are on Medicaid. That shakes out to about one in six adults and three in 10 children. Dr. Marc Gorelick, CEO of Children’s Minnesota, told MPR News on Wednesday about half of his hospital system’s patients are covered by Minnesota Medical Assistance — the state’s Medicaid program for people with low income.

We shouldn’t allow misguided policies of Republicans in Congress to destroy Minnesotans’ moral values that are based on empathy and compassion.

Minnesota’s Republican congressional delegation all voted to approve the U.S. House’s budget proposal Tuesday night, a vote some state Republican legislators attempted to inform when they urged their federal colleagues to consider the expected harm to Minnesota from Medicaid cuts.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Tina Smith is speaking on Thursday against the Republican-backed plan that could cut $1.5 trillion in federal spending over the next decade, possibly impacting Medicaid.

Congressional Republicans are eyeing changes to the nation’s largest health insurance program, which 1.2 million Minnesotans rely on.