Medicare, Hospitals, & General Healthcare

These are tumultuous times for Healthcare in America, and the Grange, like many other organizations, must see whether or not proposed replacements to the Affordable Care Act (better known as Obamacare or the ACA) will pass through the Senate, House, and Oval Office. Until then, there are still many healthcare issues we can work together on. Medicare Part D remains a staple of Grange policy- Medicare Part D has proven itself to be a valuable tool in combating senior health crises. Studies have often shown that Medicare Part D is a preventative measure, as well. Being sure that seniors are able to take their prescribed medications ensures that they do not spend time sick or injured, and ensures that they remain capable and able.

Medicaid is also an integral part of making healthcare work for rural America. Many rural hospitals in the United States rely heavily on Medicaid funding and programs to help subsidize the costs of treating those who are uninsured or underinsured. While many hospitals in urban and suburban centers can afford to cover these losses, rural hospitals operate at two thin a margin to recoup them and need federal aid to continue serving their communities. Many proposed replacements to the ACA, for example the American Health Care Act (better known as Ryancare or the AHCA) have threatened to cut Medicaid funding and reduce the ability for states themselves to increase Medicaid coverage and rural hospital support. As of February 2017, nearly 700 rural hospitals were considered to be in severe risk of closure according to a study by the Chartis Group. Without proper support, these hospitals risk permanent closure- oftentimes leaving their community without medical aid.

Childhood obesity and public health remain grave concerns to many Americans. As each community is different and retains individual needs, the Grange supports giving local communities the tools they need to combat obesity on their own. Broad and sweeping legislation on a national level to try and slow this pandemic can’t replace local access to fresh and nutritious food, proper nutrition education, and the limiting of sugary drinks and other unhealthy snacks in public school environments.

Finally, the Grange supports the continued thorough scientific testing of food made from genetically modified organisms (better known as GMOs). As the current scientific consensus is that GMO food does not pose a significant health risk to Americans, we follow the scientific community’s recommendation and will continue to support the use of GMO food and products. We call for continued and transparent testing of the effects of GMO food, however, and will revise our position if the scientific consensus changes. Although the National Grange does not support the forced labeling of food which contains GMOs, we support programs which allow food that does not carry GMO ingredients to be labeled as such. This is a constantly evolving debate and one we watch very closely, and the National Grange will continue to monitor the issue in the future.