WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ranking Member Martin Heinrich (D-NM) announced today the release of a new analysis by the Joint Economic Committee Democrats that explains the vital role Medicaid plays in the fight against the opioid and heroin epidemic. If Republicans succeed in repealing Medicaid expansion, Americans should expect pain from the opioid and heroin epidemic to get even worse.

The report, “Medicaid Plays Key Role in Fight Against Opioid and Heroin Epidemic,” details how repealing Medicaid expansion would lead to more people going untreated because of lost insurance or rising costs, families and workplaces continuing to be pulled apart by the epidemic, hospitals and taxpayers getting stuck with the bill for uncompensated care, and the costs to our economy continuing to rise.

“Far too many New Mexico families have lost loved ones and many more are struggling to find treatment and recovery resources," said Senator Heinrich. “I have heard from many New Mexicans who have told me how access to health care coverage through the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid expansion has helped their families and even saved their lives. Throwing all of that away will have a very real cost for hundreds of thousands of New Mexico families, and American families around the country.”

The report can be found here.

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 For more information, please contact Latoya Veal at Latoya_Veal@jec.senate.gov or 202-224-0379.