Press Releases

Today, Congressman Richard E. Neal joined Dr. Lynn Ireland, President & CEO of Riverside Industries, to highlight the impact of proposed Medicaid cuts on the First Congressional District.

On February 25, 2025, the House of Representatives passed a budget resolution that requires the House Energy and Commerce Committee to cut $880 billion in federal programs. The Congressional Budget Office has confirmed that this cannot be achieved without making significant cuts to Medicare or Medicaid.

Nearly 80 million Americans receive health care through Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), including 1.6 million residents of Massachusetts and more than 330,000 residents in the First District. Throughout Massachusetts, 48% of adults are at risk of losing their health coverage due to the proposed Medicaid work requirements.

“Medicaid, or what we in Massachusetts call MassHealth, plays a critical role in providing affordable health care coverage for those at the lower end of the economic spectrum. The notion that we are going to cut a program that provides health care to tens of millions of Americans, including women, children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities, while simultaneously pursuing a tax cut for the wealthy is reprehensible,” said Congressman Neal. “I received more than one hundred letters from individuals who rely on the services provided by Riverside. I came here today to tell them that we will continue fighting for them and against any attempts to cut the critical lifeline of care and coverage that Medicaid provides.”

Riverside Industries has been serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, acquired brain injury, and autism for 57 years. Based in the center of Easthampton, Riverside provides day habilitation, community integration, employment, and transportation services to 200 people with disabilities across the tri-county region of western Massachusetts. In addition, Riverside works in seven high schools across the region to provide pre-employment training services to students with a documented disability, a 504 Plan, or an Individual Education Plan. Riverside's 140 dedicated, passionate, and caring team members work to fulfill the organization's mission of empowering people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to maximize their opportunities for acceptance, independence, personal growth, and employment throughout their lives. 

“We are in a challenging and transformational period. Medicaid cuts will have severe impacts on service provision to one of the most vulnerable populations, not only in Massachusetts but throughout the US,” said Dr. Lynn Ireland, President & CEO of Riverside Industries. “The most medically and behaviorally complex participants receive nursing care, as well as speech, physical, and occupational therapy. Other participants are employed and have become a solution to the workforce shortage; 45 Riverside participants work across dining halls at UMass Amherst, Westfield State University, and Amherst College. Riverside's services are a critical part of the state's safety net, which includes MassHealth, SSI, SSDI, SNAP & WIC, low-income housing, and childcare assistance. Many of the participants we serve live in community-based group homes and do not have family to return home to.  Cuts, at any level, will put people with disabilities at great risk.” 

In addition to its role in providing affordable health coverage, MassHealth brings $13 billion to Massachusetts each year – half of all federal funding to the state – as well as one-fifth of revenue for hospitals and half of the revenue for nursing facilities and community health centers. MassHealth also supports 125,000 healthcare jobs and thousands more beyond.

“Let’s not forget the role Medicaid plays in reimbursements and what that means for hospitals in our region,” continued Congressman Neal “Whether it be Baystate, Harrington, Holyoke, Mercy, or North Adams, the public payer mix sustains our hospitals and, as a result, countless jobs throughout western Massachusetts.”

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