As a retired psychologist who has worked with many individuals receiving Medicaid and food stamp benefits in north central West Virginia, I am very concerned about the potential impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) on West Virginians. Senator Shelly Moore Capito voted for this bill earlier this year. The Parson’s Advocate has primarily published articles about the positive impact of legislation with which Senator Capito has been involved, such as funding the removal and replacement of outdated sewer infrastructure in Parsons. However, nothing has been said about the potential impact of cuts to Medicaid and food stamps that will occur once the OBBB is fully implemented. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) predicts that 10 million more people in the US will become uninsured by 2034 as a result of the OBBB. Federal spending on Medicaid will be reduced by more that $1 trillion. Meanwhile, the wealthiest US households will reap the biggest benefits from this bill. A number of the adults and children I worked with who were receiving Medicaid health care benefits and food stamps were barely managing to get by. I cannot imagine how they will cope without that support.
One data point from 2020-2021 indicates that 14.8% of Tucker County residents have no health insurance, and another from 2022 reveals that approximately 15% of Tucker County residents were receiving food stamp benefits. How many more people are going to lose their health insurance and face food insecurity once this bill takes effect. What’s going to happen to our struggling rural hospitals when they are flooded with patients with no health insurance who are unable to afford early preventative and remedial care? In addition, the new work requirements in the OBBB will be difficult to comply with for those in rural areas like West Virginia where there will be no schools, few jobs and limited volunteer opportunities amounting to 80 hours per month. And this doesn’t even touch on the fact that some poor people living in West Virginia, have a hard time being able to afford to keep a reliable vehicle on the road, which they would need in order to be able to participate in employment. I have applauded Senator Capito’s embrace of bipartisanship in the past. However, I simply cannot agree with her that the OBBB is in the best interests of the wonderful people of Tucker County, West Virginia. They deserve better.
Sincerely, Dr. Dana A. Nugent
