Medicaid is a lifeline for more than 3 million Pennsylvanians—but our system is already under strain. Pennsylvania has some of the lowest provider reimbursement rates in the continental United States, making it difficult to recruit and retain the healthcare professionals our communities depend on.
Federal Medicaid cuts would be devastating for Pennsylvania.
These reductions wouldn’t just impact individuals who rely on Medicaid—they would ripple across our entire healthcare system and economy:
<ul>
<li>Fewer providers able to serve patients, especially in rural and underserved areas </li>
<li>Longer wait times and reduced access to critical services like speech, occupational, and physical therapy </li>
<li>Increased strain on hospitals, schools, and community programs</li>
<li>Job losses and economic impact in healthcare and related sectors </li>
</ul>
When Medicaid funding is cut, everyone feels it—families, providers, and communities alike.
Medicaid supports children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities—but it also helps sustain the healthcare infrastructure that all Pennsylvanians rely on.
Protect Medicaid. Protect Pennsylvania.&nbsp;

I am writing to urge you to oppose any additional federal funding cuts to Medicaid or policy changes that would further restrict access to medically necessary audiology and speech-language pathology services for Pennsylvania’s Medicaid population. I also strongly encourage you to reject efforts to use concerns about fraud, waste, and abuse to justify broad reductions in Medicaid funding.

In Pennsylvania, Medicaid serves more than 3 million residents and is a critical pillar of our healthcare system. However, our system is already under significant strain. Pennsylvania has some of the lowest provider reimbursement rates in the continental United States, creating ongoing challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified healthcare professionals, including audiologists and speech-language pathologists (SLPs). As a result, access to care—particularly in rural and underserved communities—is already limited.

Additional federal cuts, increased administrative burdens such as work requirements, and more restrictive eligibility checks would further reduce access to care for low-income Pennsylvanians, including children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. These policies also threaten the financial viability of providers who serve Medicaid beneficiaries, forcing some to limit or discontinue participation in the program altogether.

Clinicians across Pennsylvania are already facing significant barriers to delivering care. Data from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s annual member survey consistently highlight challenges such as low reimbursement rates, prior authorization requirements, and delays in communication from Medicaid managed care organizations. These barriers directly impact patient access and continuity of care.

We are also seeing real-time consequences of federal Medicaid funding reductions in other states, where provider payment cuts have already been implemented in anticipation of reduced federal support. Pennsylvania cannot afford to follow this path. Given our already low reimbursement rates, further reductions would be particularly devastating—leading to fewer participating providers, longer wait times, and reduced access to essential services.

I am also concerned about the mischaracterization of fraud in Medicaid as a justification for funding cuts. Federal data indicate that most improper payments are due to documentation issues rather than intentional fraud. Instead of broad funding reductions, Congress should invest in targeted strategies that strengthen program integrity while preserving access to care.

Medicaid is not only a lifeline for those who rely on it directly—it also supports hospitals, schools, and community-based services across Pennsylvania. Cuts to Medicaid funding would have far-reaching consequences, impacting the entire healthcare system and the communities it serves.

I urge you to reject any additional Medicaid cuts or eligibility restrictions and instead support policies that strengthen Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program, improve provider participation, and ensure continued access to high-quality care for all who depend on these services.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Reduce cuts to Medicaid

Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association

I am writing to urge you to oppose any additional federal funding cuts to Medicaid or policy changes that would further restrict access to medically necessary audiology and speech-language pathology services for Medicaid-eligible individuals in Pennsylvania. I also urge you to reject efforts to use concerns about fraud, waste, and abuse as justification for broad reductions in Medicaid funding.

Medicaid serves more than 3 million Pennsylvanians and is a critical pillar of our Commonwealth’s healthcare system. However, Pennsylvania already has some of the lowest provider reimbursement rates in the continental United States, creating significant challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified providers. Additional federal cuts or administrative burdens—such as work requirements, increased eligibility checks, or reduced federal support—would further destabilize an already fragile system. These policies would not only reduce access to care for low-income individuals, including those with disabilities, but also threaten the financial viability of providers who serve Medicaid patients.

Clinicians across Pennsylvania are already facing substantial barriers to delivering care. Data from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association annual member survey highlight ongoing challenges, including low reimbursement rates, burdensome prior authorization requirements, and delayed responses from Medicaid managed care organizations. These barriers directly impact patient access to timely and necessary services, particularly in rural and underserved areas of the Commonwealth.

We are already seeing the real-world consequences of federal Medicaid funding reductions. States such as Colorado, Idaho, and North Carolina have enacted provider payment cuts in response to anticipated federal funding losses. These are not hypothetical concerns—patients are experiencing reduced access to care, and providers are being forced to limit or discontinue Medicaid participation. Pennsylvania is at serious risk of facing similar outcomes if additional federal cuts are enacted.

I am also concerned about the misuse of fraud, waste, and abuse narratives to justify further reductions. According to data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the majority of improper Medicaid payments are due to documentation or administrative errors—not intentional fraud. Rather than imposing sweeping funding cuts that harm patients and providers, Congress should invest in strengthening states’ ability to identify and address legitimate fraud while preserving access to care.

Cuts to Medicaid do not only affect those who rely on the program—they have far-reaching consequences for all Pennsylvanians. Reduced funding leads to fewer participating providers, longer wait times, increased strain on hospitals and schools, and broader economic impacts across the healthcare workforce.

I urge you to reject any additional Medicaid cuts or eligibility restrictions through budget reconciliation or any other legislation. Instead, please support policies that strengthen Medicaid, improve care delivery, and ensure that Pennsylvanians continue to have access to essential audiology and speech-language pathology services.

Thank you for your attention to this critical issue and for your continued service to the people of Pennsylvania.

Protect Medicaid, Protect Pennsylvanians