The President’s 2020 Budget Proposal

Federal spending is always a controversial topic – especially since this year there is more than $7.5 trillion on the line. And while it’s easy to get swept up in all the political excitement knowing that at the end of the day spending levels are actually controlled by Congress, it’s important to remember that budget proposals can still hold a lot of good information regarding what potential candidates stand for, and where their priorities and intentions lie – and Trump’s 2020 budget proposal, for instance, says a lot about how concerned he is for Veterans, seniors, and those with disabilities.

Cut $1.5 Trillion From Medicaid Budget Over The Next Decade

Trump’s plan to decrease Medicaid spending by $1.5 trillion over the next decade includes the enforcement of new rules regarding work requirements, block grants, and eligibility, which could jeopardize many beneficiaries’ ability to receive the assistance and/or care they need.

• Work Requirements would become standard in order to be eligible to receive Medicaid. So far, “many states have already begun the Section 1115 waiver process,” while states like Arkansas (the first state to enforce work requirements) have seen more than 18,000 recipients lose their Medicaid coverage since December 2018 as a result of the new rules.
• Block Grants, which were denied by Congress in 2017, will allow for the implementation of federal funding caps, which according to Secretary of Health and Human Services, Mr. Azar, would “not guarantee that Medicaid recipients could keep their coverage.”
• Eligibility for Medicaid could be greatly affected by plans to decrease the home equity allowance, and the requirement of official documentation of legal immigration status, however there are still no precise details regarding these changes at this time.

Cut $825 Billion From Social Security & Medicare Budgets Over The Next Decade

While “federal expenditures for Social Security and Medicare are estimated to make up 70% of the federal budget,” the significant cuts still worry many Americans. According to Trump, reducing fraud will easily make up for Social Security spending cuts, but opponents are still concerned that benefits will suffer and recipients will be cut from the program. As far as Medicare is concerned, Trump’s plan relies on cutting drug prices and modernizing “Medicare Part D drug benefits, reducing costs for Part B drugs, and increasing access to generic drugs through greater competition” to make up for the proposed cuts. However, opponents are worried the cuts are actually just to “make up for revenue shortfalls created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.”

7.5% Spending Increase For Veteran Health Care

Trump fully supports Veterans and the VA Mission Act of 2018, and as such wants to be able to provide them with “greater choice on where they receive their healthcare – whether at VA or through a private healthcare provider.” The 7.5% increase would also cover the cost of a new urgent care system that would allow Veterans to receive emergency assistance from local facilities in their own communities. Furthermore, money would be set aside to “improve the online interface” granting correspondence between the VA and Veterans.

Greater Funding For Mental Health Programs

The National Alliance on Mental Illness confirms that nearly 44 million Americans are experiencing or will experience mental illness “in any given year,” which is 1 in every 5 adults. However, should Trump’s budget proposal go through, we can expect to see more people getting the help they need. Funds will focus on increasing access to mental health services, increasing funding for programs/investments that offer 24-hour crisis response services, violence prevention in schools, suicide prevention, and other services that provide assistance to the emotionally ill, or those with emotionally ill/disturbed children.

Final Thoughts

Only time will tell if these changes will break through to reality, or how they would/will effect the lives of the American people. What’s important now is that people stay informed in order to make the best decision come Election Day – whatever that decision may be for them. Call us, today, at 313.964.4900 or fill out the form in the sidebar or on our contact page, and learn more about how we can help you.