Nurses on the Frontline: The Battle for Medicaid and Healthcare Equity

Nurses, the unsung heroes of our healthcare system, are under attack! As we celebrate Nurses Week from May 6 through May 12, it's crucial to recognize the monumental role nurses play in keeping our health system afloat. From medical emergencies to routine check-ups, nurses are the backbone of America’s health system, doing the essential work of caring for patients, saving lives, and keeping hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and health departments running strong.

But here's the kicker: Congress is plotting to gut Medicaid, and 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!

Nurses are fighting back! AFSCME nurses have been tirelessly calling and meeting with representatives in Washington, getting organized, and demanding action. They understand better than anyone that Congress’s plan to gut Medicaid will throw our health care system into disarray. It’s time to stand with them. Join the call to Congress: put public health before billionaire wealth!

But what can you do to help? Here are some actionable steps:

1. Educate Yourself and Others: Learn about the importance of Medicaid. As of November 2024, over 70 million Americans were enrolled in Medicaid, making it a critical component of the U.S. healthcare system. Medicaid represents $1 out of every $5 spent on health care in the U.S. Share this information with your friends, family, and colleagues.

2. Advocate for Policy Changes: Nurses can advocate for policy changes that protect Medicaid funding. For example, Congress is currently discussing how to change Medicaid policies related to eligibility and coverage in order to cut $600–$800 billion from the Medicaid program over the next 10 years. Nurses can advocate against these cuts by emphasizing the negative impact they would have on vulnerable populations, such as the 4 in 10 children and 1 in 6 adults who rely on Medicaid for their healthcare needs.

3. Promote Health Equity: Nurses can promote health equity by advocating for policies that address the social determinants of health (SDOH). As noted, frameworks for SDOH place the health care system downstream, often operating in response to illness, rather than upstream, impacting the underlying causes of health outcomes. Nurses can advocate for policies that address upstream factors, such as economic and housing instability, discrimination and other forms of racism, educational disparities, and inadequate nutrition, which can affect an individual’s health before the health care system is ever involved.

4. Collaborate with Other Stakeholders: Nurses can collaborate with other stakeholders, such as community organizations, healthcare providers, and policymakers, to advocate for policy changes that protect Medicaid funding and ensure equitable access to healthcare. For example, nurses can partner with communities and other sectors to take on expanded roles, working in new settings in innovative ways, and partnering with communities and other sectors. This collaboration can help to create a more comprehensive and effective advocacy effort.

5. Leverage Professional Organizations: Nurses can leverage their professional organizations, such as the American Nurses Association (ANA), to advocate for policy changes. The ANA's Code of Ethics includes a provision that reflects the commitment to social justice and its priority has been elevated by the increased demand for social justice within communities and society at large. Nurses can use this provision to advocate for policies that protect Medicaid funding and ensure equitable access to healthcare.

The stakes are high, and the time to act is now! Nurses are on the frontline of this battle, and they need your support. Join the fight for Medicaid and healthcare equity today!