As Provo\u2019s newly elected mayor and a lifelong Republican, I believe in fiscal responsibility, local control and practical solutions. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to be clear about this reality: When the federal government cuts Medicaid, our communities become less affordable and less livable for everyone.<\/p>\n
The affordability crisis facing Utah families isn\u2019t just about rising housing costs, health care and grocery prices. It\u2019s also about the hidden costs that appear when essential services disappear. When Washington, D.C., cuts Medicaid funding, those costs don\u2019t go away \u2014 they are pushed down to cities and counties, and eventually picked up by taxpayers.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what happens. Counties are legally required to provide mental health and substance abuse services, which are primarily paid for by Medicaid. For example, local programs like Wasatch Behavioral Health (Utah County) and\/or Optum Health (Salt Lake County) are able to serve our most vulnerable residents because Medicaid makes that care possible. When Medicaid funding drops \u2014 or when eligible people lose access to Medicaid \u2014 counties face an impossible choice: raise taxes, cut other services or watch treatment programs collapse. Every option makes life more expensive and less stable for residents. <\/p>\n
The math is straightforward. Counties must match at least 20% of state behavioral health funding. When federal Medicaid dollars shrink, our local dollars buy less care. The gap grows quickly, and we can find that it\u2019s our friends, families and neighbors \u2014 not just strangers \u2014 who are at risk. The impact is felt across our entire community.<\/p>\n
When people can\u2019t access mental health care or addiction treatment, we see the results in our communities every day. Families end up in crisis. Domestic violence and homelessness increase. Public spaces become less safe. Businesses struggle and property values decline. <\/p>\n