Senator Peter Welch Advocates for Healthcare Access Amid Republican Budget Concerns
June 2, 2025, Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) recently participated in a roundtable with Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE) to address the detrimental effects of a Republican reconciliation bill on healthcare access in Vermont. The proposed bill seeks to bar Planned Parenthood from participating in Medicaid, jeopardizing services for millions, including vulnerable groups like children, seniors, and veterans.
According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, defunding Planned Parenthood would lead to a staggering $300 million cost increase and strip healthcare coverage from over 25 million Americans. Specifically, the prohibition against using Planned Parenthood as a Medicaid provider threatens the healthcare of more than 80 million citizens relying on Medicaid.
“I will continue to do everything I can to protect access to healthcare for communities, safeguard access for patients, and lower costs for hardworking Vermonters,” Senator Welch stated. He emphasized that claims of savings from defunding Planned Parenthood are misleading, arguing that the move would only increase healthcare costs as more Vermonters delay care until emergencies arise.
In Vermont, approximately 24% of PPNNE’s patients depend on Medicaid; if the bill passes, PPNNE faces a loss of $5 million annually. Annually, nearly 16,000 patients are served at six health centers across the state. Additionally, the bill could lead to more than 29,000 Vermonters losing coverage—20,000 on Medicaid and about 8,000 relying on Vermont Health Connect.
As concerns rise over the potential fallout from the Republican budget, Senator Welch remains committed to defending healthcare access for all Vermonters.
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