Medicaid has been a bedrock for the less fortunate for 60 years. The Medicare and Medicaid Act of 1965 was a promise to Americans, one that aligns with our deeply held values: Helping people in need and providing everyone, regardless of their background or situation, the chance to thrive.

That makes Medicaid a lifeline for more than 75 million Americans, including one in 10 veterans. The program is also the largest payer for substance use disorder treatment and mental health services in the country. Of the people Medicaid covers, roughly two in five have a substance use or mental health challenge, with one in four having been diagnosed with a mental illness and substance use disorder. The program is also vital to older Americans living in nursing homes.

So much great work has been done to reduce overdose deaths and get people the help they need, and we have programs like Medicaid to thank for that progress.

Creating more barriers to accessing care would not only be catastrophic for the millions who rely on Medicaid for mental health and substance use treatment and care but also wouldn’t accomplish the goal of saving money. It would drive costs up across the entire health system.

Few programs have helped organizations expand access to........

© The Hill