Planning with Medicaid for the Challenges Ahead
As the Commonwealth government prepares for another round of austerity and budget cuts, including potential reductions in work hours and personnel, we have to anticipate what that will mean for our families. With less income coming into households, more people may need assistance through programs like Medicaid and the Nutrition Assistance Program. I was grateful for the opportunity to sit down with George Cruz and Roman Tudela from the CNMI Medicaid Agency last week to discuss where the program stands today and how we can prepare to meet the needs of our community in the months ahead. These conversations are important because we have to be able to do multiple things at once. We need to continue the work of rebuilding our economy and strengthening our ability to stand on our own feet, while also recognizing the critical role federal programs play in supporting our people during difficult times. That means planning ahead, protecting the resources available to us, and making sure federal assistance reaches the families and households that need it most.