Federal Budget

Washington’s budget battles and focus on cutting federal spending are increasingly threatening the Medicaid program. Cutbacks to Medicaid will disproportionately harm women because they represent more than two-thirds of adults who receive Medicaid. These fact sheets provide state-by-state data on the impact of the various threats to the Medicaid program, the representation of women in the Medicaid program, and illustrations of how dramatic Medicaid funding cuts and program restructuring will jeopardize women’s access to vital health services.

Congress is currently considering proposals to amend the Constitution to mandate a balanced budget:  a requirement that federal spending not exceed revenues in any fiscal year unless a supermajority (generally three-fifths) of members in each chamber of Congress agrees to additional spending.  Even without the addition of more dangerous features such as a cap on total spending and a super-majority requirement for revenue increases,  a balanced budget requirement would threaten the economy and critical programs – including Social Security.