Support Nurses by Opposing Medicaid Cuts and Protecting Public Health

As National Nurses Week kicks off today and runs through May 12, the spotlight turns to the invaluable contributions of nurses in our healthcare system. Amidst celebrations, there are calls for prioritizing public health over tax cuts for the wealthy, a concern highlighted by potential Medicaid reductions.

The current administration's proposed budget cuts to Medicaid could jeopardize healthcare for millions, particularly affecting low-income families, children, and seniors who depend on this critical service. These cuts would not only threaten patient care but also risk job losses for healthcare workers, including nurses, and could lead to the closure of essential healthcare facilities.

AFSCME President Lee Saunders emphasized the gravity of these cuts in a statement marking Nurses Week, stating, “If these devastating cuts pass, nurses will lose jobs, emergency rooms will be overwhelmed, hospitals and clinics will close, lives will be lost, and everyone will suffer from poorer care. All to pay for billionaire tax cuts.”

This year's Nurses Week theme, “The Power of Nurses,” acknowledges the critical role nurses play in healthcare and the challenges they face. AFSCME, representing over 60,000 nurses nationwide, underscores the importance of supporting these healthcare professionals.

As we celebrate Nurses Week, it's essential to recognize and thank these healthcare heroes for their dedication to community health. There's a call to action to Get Organized to defend their jobs and prevent cuts to Medicaid.

Saunders further noted, “This week, as we recognize nurses for their compassion, hard work, and sacrifice, we must stand up to the billionaires and anti-union extremists who want to roll back their rights, freedoms, and workplace safety. Nurses go the extra mile for their patients, and they understand better than anyone that Congress’ plan to gut Medicaid will throw our health care system into disarray.”

Beyond nurses, the looming federal budget cuts threaten the broader spectrum of public service workers and the essential services they provide. In response, AFSCME has initiated the Get Organized (GO) campaign to raise awareness and resist efforts to dismantle public services and key programs like Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security.