Senator Maggie Hassan Warns Against Erosion of Medicaid in Fentanyl Battle

Senator Maggie Hassan Warns Against Erosion of Medicaid in Fentanyl Battle

PROGRAMMING ALERT: Watch Senator Maggie Hassan discuss this topic and more on “America’s Newsroom” on Monday, April 14.

The Trump administration’s recent intelligence report identifies illicit fentanyl as one of the most significant threats to national security. Senator Maggie Hassan expresses her concern regarding this issue, arguing that the administration’s potential decision to reduce Medicaid represents a loss of one of the most powerful tools in combating the fentanyl crisis.

New Hampshire, Hassan’s home state, and communities nationwide face severe challenges due to the fentanyl epidemic. Although she has had substantial disagreements with President Trump before, there was a period of collaboration during his first term. Together, they focused on bipartisan efforts to combat fentanyl trafficking through a multi-faceted strategy. These efforts included enhancing border security to restrict drug flow, providing law enforcement with essential resources for community protection, and facilitating access to addiction treatment for individuals in need.

Access to addiction treatment remains crucial because increased recovery rates correlate with reduced fentanyl demand. Many may not realize that Medicaid, particularly through Medicaid Expansion, allows individuals across the country to access addiction treatment services. Before this expansion, countless individuals struggling with addiction were unable to obtain health insurance or coverage for necessary treatments. Currently, Medicaid provides these vital resources. However, proposals from President Trump and congressional Republicans to cut Medicaid threaten to undermine these advancements, jeopardizing treatment access for those in need.

Recent Legislative Development

Earlier this year, the Senate passed the Halt Fentanyl Act, which aims to permanently classify all fentanyl-related drugs as Schedule I substances. This legislative move signifies an ongoing commitment to addressing the fentanyl crisis at a national level.

Hassan recalls her time as New Hampshire’s governor, where she observed firsthand how law enforcement supported expanding Medicaid. Officers recognized that facilitating recovery was a primary means to reduce demand for deadly substances like fentanyl. During this tenure, creating synergies between law enforcement and healthcare played an essential role in fighting addiction.

As the ranking member of the Joint Economic Committee, Hassan notes the committee’s recent publication stressing Medicaid’s critical role in treating addiction and combating fentanyl. The report highlights how approximately one million Americans benefit from medication-assisted treatment through Medicaid. Encouragingly, recent data indicates a significant decrease in overdose deaths, with an approximately 25 percent drop noted in 2024 compared to the previous year. This development marks an important milestone in the ongoing battle against fentanyl and its devastating effects.

Despite this progress, the potential budget proposals advocated by President Trump and his allies could ultimately dismantle these gains. By prioritizing tax reductions for billionaires at the expense of Medicaid, they risk making healthcare increasingly unreachable for countless Americans. This scenario threatens to deny many individuals the essential support they require in their struggle against addiction, thus complicating law enforcement efforts and reversing the bipartisan advancements previously made.

The fentanyl epidemic transcends political divisions, impacting communities across the nation regardless of party affiliation. As such, Hassan argues that addressing this crisis should not be a partisan endeavor. The foremost duty of government is to protect its citizens. For this reason, she is committed to collaborating across party lines to ensure the safety of both Granite Staters and all Americans. Her actions while serving as governor included augmenting police forces to enhance community safety and supporting bipartisan initiatives aimed at border security.

Concerns about the proposed Medicaid cuts have resonated with some Republican colleagues, mirroring the apprehensions of many constituents, including those from New Hampshire, who support the President. They share a desire to see a reversal of these cuts, understanding that the fight against fentanyl cannot falter while thousands of Americans continue to succumb to overdoses each year.

A Call for Unity in the Fight Against Fentanyl

Now is the time for proactive measures. It is essential to set aside political differences, listen to law enforcement, and heed the intelligence community’s warnings. Collectively, a commitment to maintaining Medicaid is necessary to secure the future for American families. By defending Medicaid, the goal remains clear—to protect children, combat fentanyl trafficking, and ensure that more Americans struggling with addiction receive the support they desperately need for recovery.

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