Rep. McBride: GOP Budget Puts Rural Hospitals — and Lives — at Risk

Washington, D.C. — Today, Delaware’s Congresswoman Sarah McBride took to the House floor to warn of the devastating consequences the Republican budget would have on rural hospitals and communities in Delaware and across the country.

In her remarks, McBride highlighted how drastic cuts to Medicaid proposed by House Republicans would gut the rural health care system, threaten hospital closures, and raise costs for working families — all to just partially fund tax breaks for the wealthy.

“Across Delaware, rural hospitals are doing more than just providing care,” said Rep. McBride. “They’re delivering babies. They’re treating emergencies. They’re caring for aging parents. They’re anchors of both health and economic security. But under this budget, all of that is at risk.”

McBride emphasized that over 40% of rural hospitals nationwide already operate at a loss and rely on Medicaid funding to keep their doors open. If the proposed GOP budget becomes law, she warned, it would force layoffs, reduce critical services, and lead to the closure of care centers in rural areas.

“This isn’t hypothetical,” McBride said. “Before Medicaid expansion, clinics were closing. Nurses were being laid off. People drove hours just to see a doctor. Now, the Majority wants to bring that devastation to Delaware where we have worked diligently to ensure we have no care deserts.”

In Delaware alone, more than 40,000 people could lose Medicaid coverage, she noted — including working families, children, and seniors. Under the Republican plan, care would be replaced with red tape, and life-saving services could vanish.

“Let me tell you what that means in real life: It means working people in Delaware will skip doctor’s appointments because they’ve lost their insurance — only to end up in the emergency room, facing longer wait times and crushing medical bills. Rural hospitals are left to absorb the costs, while patients are burdened with life-altering debt,” said McBride. “And yes, it means preventable deaths.

“Cuts to Medicaid aren't just cuts to line items on a budget. They’re cuts to care that keep my constituents alive.”

Rep. McBride closed her speech by calling on her colleagues to reject the proposal:

“If you believe in the dignity of rural communities, and if you believe that no one should die because their local hospital couldn’t keep its doors open—then join me in opposing this horrible and heartless bill.”

McBride’s full speech is available here for use.

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