Washington, DC (February 26, 2025) – The House has passed a budget with harmful cuts to Medicaid. This vote moves the proposal forward, but the fight is not over. As the budget reconciliation process moves forward, specific House committees will have the opportunity to weigh in and protect millions of Americans who rely on Medicaid. UsAgainstAlzheimer’s condemns the House vote and urges the Senate to reject these cuts and protect the vital services many depend on.

UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Chair and Co-Founder, George Vradenburg, released the following statement regarding the House-approved budget cuts:

“More than half of all Americans have a family member with Alzheimer’s, and cuts to Medicaid threaten their care. Congress needs to protect Medicaid.

“The House resolution’s expected cuts to Medicaid are particularly troubling as individuals living with dementia are more than twice as likely to be eligible for Medicaid than those who do not have the disease. Without access to Medicaid, patients lose critical access to services such as memory care facilities and in-home care. Cutting Medicaid today will only delay a crisis on the horizon, ultimately resulting in higher costs if we don’t have a system in place to manage and support these patients.

“These cuts will not only harm patients today but will also create future financial burdens. This burden lies not just with individuals, but also with their families. Much of the cost of caring for patients falls on unpaid caregivers, with these costs topping $599 billion in 2024. If these cuts to Medicaid are enacted, millions of family members will bear an even greater financial burden caring for their loved ones.

“Community health centers and emergency departments will also face increased patient loads. Caregivers and individuals will have fewer options and may have to seek urgent care for issues that could have been managed or prevented with access to memory care services, in-home assistance, and medication management.

“Alzheimer’s is a deeply personal disease, as the loss of oneself, one’s memories, and connections is ripped away from the patient. UsAgainstAlzheimer’s urges the Senate to reject these dangerous cuts that will both cause real harm to patients and their families.”