Dear editor:
The Freedom Caucus is recklessly trying to cut the Wyoming Health Department’s budget wantonly.
Trying to understand complicated public health issues in a short series of meetings is like me trying to learn quantum physics in a day.
But that’s exactly what the Joint Appropriations Committee did when it appointed three legislators with no healthcare backgrounds to try and cut funding from the Wyoming Department of Health’s budget through a so-called “DOGE” budget subcommittee.
Many people across Wyoming are struggling to afford healthcare, including pregnant women, seniors and people with disabilities. Thousands of residents of all ages need mental healthcare, but there are not enough professionals to treat them, especially in rural areas.
This is the time to make an investment in our healthcare system, not tear it down. The state has a huge problem with maternal care. Wyoming has a huge “maternal healthcare desert,” where pregnant women do not have a facility for prenatal care or delivery within 30 miles. We also have a severe shortage of OB-GYNs.
Five hospitals have closed maternity wards, leaving expectant mothers to drive more than 100 miles to deliver their babies. In bad weather conditions, some have had their babies on the side of the road.
Meanwhile, the Legislature has done absolutely nothing to fix the problem. Some lawmakers tried to increase pay for maternal healthcare services last year, but the Freedom Caucus killed the idea.
The Legislature needs to listen to people who understand the broad scope of the healthcare needs in our communities. They should focus on addressing issues like aging, disabilities, veterans, mental health, vital statistics, licensing and addiction.
The so-called healthcare “DOGE” committee chairman, Rep. Ken Pendergraft of Sheridan, is a Freedom Caucus leader ill-equipped for the job. He clearly does not understand healthcare issues or how a budget works. He closed one meeting by talking about his experience with budgets when he was in the military.
“Basically what you did was you took last year’s budget and then you added on whatever gravy you thought you could squeeze in,” Pendergraft said.
In Sheridan, members of the public and healthcare providers told the committee that it needs to protect critical areas , like Medicaid dental services for children. The Health Department has been able to keep many dental providers who threatened to stop seeing Medicaid clients to maintain their services by increasing the reimbursement rate.
Department of Health Director Stefan Johansson then walked the committee through the ins and outs of the agency’s mission and budget. I’ve followed the hearings online, and I have no confidence that lawmakers like Pendergraft have used that experience to improve healthcare in Wyoming, or provide an honest explanation of what the Health Department does.
The whole “DOGE” show seems like a bogus stunt that will do nothing to improve healthcare in Wyoming.
Sincerely,
Bonnie Bath, Hillsdale
