To the editor:

During the 30 years I have provided primary care to our North Country community, I have never seen threats to our national healthcare system such as those posed by the Trump administration and this Republican-controlled Congress.

As a family physician, I’m gravely concerned about what the deep cuts to Medicaid supported by my representative, Elise Stefanik, and other Republican leaders would mean for our community. That’s why, last month, I traveled to our nation’s capital to ask Rep. Stefanik to oppose these cuts. She declined to meet with me, but I was able to speak with her legislative director in the hallway outside of her office.

I explained that the proposed healthcare funding cuts would be devastating to our local medical system and North Country patients. Over two-thirds of Adirondack Health’s patients are covered by Medicare or Medicaid. These are people we all know. These are our family members, grandparents and children. These are working people. These are us.

Rep. Stefanik voted in support of the Republican budget plan, which requires the committee that oversees Medicaid to cut hundreds of billions of dollars, clearing the way for Congress to take healthcare away from those who need it the most. Thankfully, there are more steps in the process before these devastating cuts become a devastating reality. Over the next few weeks, the House will work to finalize this legislation before voting on it once again. It’s crucial that Rep. Stefanik and her colleagues in Congress hear from their constituents and vote “No.”

Taking away people’s healthcare does not mean that people will no longer need healthcare. It means that when individuals are forced out of necessity to seek care, they will be sicker and their illnesses will be more difficult and more expensive to treat. Reductions in Medicare or Medicaid funding will force our already stressed local hospital to reduce services and possibly close. Loss of our local medical services will mean traveling further to access care and waiting longer for that care.

Like heart disease, this issue crosses political party lines, affecting Democrats and Republicans alike. I urge readers to contact Representative Stefanik’s office (stefanik.house.gov/email-me) and demand that she oppose any cuts to Medicaid or Medicare.

Christopher Hyson, MD

Lake Placid