As Republican lawmakers consider significant spending cuts, increasing concerns are emerging about the potential rollback of Medicaid funding that assists Americans impacted by the street fentanyl crisis. A report published by Democrats on the Congressional Joint Economic Committee highlighted that over a million people in the United States receiving opioid addiction treatment, including those for fentanyl, might face disruptions.
Senator Maggie Hassan from New Hampshire criticized proposals by former President Trump and Congressional Republicans to reduce Medicaid funding to finance tax reductions for corporate interests and wealthy individuals. She expressed concerns that these cuts could endanger addiction treatment at a time when the nation is making progress in combating the fentanyl crisis.
Over the past decade, Medicaid has become the primary source of insurance for high-quality addiction treatment in the U.S., particularly after more states expanded coverage under the Affordable Care Act. A February study by the Brookings Institution noted that Medicaid funds nearly 90 percent of opioid and fentanyl addiction treatments in the country.
Experts indicate that this funding has contributed to the decline in drug overdose deaths, which decreased by 26.6 percent nationwide from June 2023 to October 2024, according to provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, some GOP lawmakers continue to target the Affordable Care Act. While the exact impact of Republican budget proposals on Medicaid’s role in drug treatment is uncertain, GOP leaders have suggested potential cuts totaling up to $2.3 trillion over the next decade.
House Speaker Mike Johnson recently suggested that young men, who are particularly vulnerable to drug addiction and constitute a large portion of overdose fatalities, should not be eligible for Medicaid. He advocated for removing able-bodied individuals from the program.
Research shows that men are two to three times more prone to die from drug overdoses compared to women, and fentanyl is now a leading cause of death for men under fifty. Concerns are growing among addiction researchers, doctors, and survivors as drastic Medicaid cuts could hinder national recovery from the fentanyl-overdose epidemic.
Keith Humphreys of Stanford University emphasized that the Republican budget proposals present a serious threat of severe Medicaid cuts, which would be detrimental to families dealing with addiction. Dr. Brian Hurley, president of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, urged policymakers to safeguard Medicaid expansion, which not only funds evidence-based addiction treatment but also reduces the demand for illicit opioids, challenging drug cartels.
The Brookings Institution’s report concluded that significant Medicaid rollbacks could greatly diminish addiction care throughout the country, as Medicaid payments for opioid use disorder treatment surpass all other public funding sources.
