Medicaid provides health coverage for roughly 80 million Americans, and concerns about proposed cuts are being heard in Kentucky.Studies show Kentucky맥스카지노�s Medicaid expansion in 2014 has led to strides in health outcomes. 맥스카지노�More people have a primary care provider, are getting regular care for chronic conditions, and fewer people are skipping prescriptions,맥스카지노� said Emily Beauregard, the executive director of Kentucky Voices for Health.Possible changes and cuts to the program at the state and federal levels threaten the progress.The cost-cutting bill in Congress, and the commonwealth's newly passed Medicaid oversight law, House Bill 695, put 1.5 million Kentuckians enrolled in the program at risk of being uninsured, including 200,000 in Louisville. More than 100,000 are children under the age of 19, and 17,000 are seniors over 65.One implementation in both measures that is sparking debate is the mandatory work reporting requirement for recipients.맥스카지노�They have a reason that they're not working because they're a caregiver, disabled, ill, or they're a student,맥스카지노� said Beauregard. 맥스카지노�These work reporting requirements don't produce better-paying jobs.맥스카지노�Supporters of the cuts push back, believing many recipients are able-bodied and abusing the system.맥스카지노�Medicaid was not meant to be a destination; it was meant to be a safety net,맥스카지노� said Jim Waters, the president of Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions.Waters also believes this Medicaid reform will save the government money and address fraud.맥스카지노�I think we need to have a light shone brightly on that because I agree that Medicaid fraud is not on that similar level with individuals, but who pays for the fraud? It's the taxpayers that pay for that,맥스카지노� he said.But, health care advocates say the cost to low-income Kentuckians will be greater without Medicaid.Beauregard says the impacts can include delayed treatment, leading to deteriorating health, declining participation in Kentucky맥스카지노�s workforce, which could lead to a serious blow in our economy, and increased medical debt because they cannot afford to pay out of pocket.맥스카지노�Health care is a human right and everyone needs access to care,맥스카지노� she said. 맥스카지노�It's better for all of us that our neighbors and our coworkers and our family members are healthy. Don맥스카지노�t see this as a drain, see it as an investment.맥스카지노�Medicaid also covers more than hospital and doctor visits. It helps pay for mental health treatment and nursing home stays, adding to the debate of whether these proposed cuts will help or hurt Kentuckians and beyond.