Kelly, Gallego, Stanton, Ansari: Medicaid Cuts Would Undermine Arizona’s Fight Against the Fentanyl Crisis

Joint Economic Committee report finds that over 31,000 Arizonans access addiction treatment through Medicaid

Today, Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, alongside Representatives Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04) and Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-03), responded to a new report released by the Joint Economic Committee Minority warning that proposed Medicaid cuts by President Trump and Republicans would threaten addiction treatment access for thousands of Arizonans and undermine the state’s efforts to combat the ongoing fentanyl crisis. 

According to the report, more than 31,000 Arizonans receive gold-standard treatment for opioid use disorder through Medicaid, known in Arizona as AHCCCS—and over 22,000 of those members are covered solely because of Arizona’s Medicaid expansion program. State law includes a “trigger” that would automatically end Arizona’s expansion if federal funding falls below 80 percent—a change that could happen under the Republican proposal. That would mean the immediate loss of coverage for tens of thousands of Arizonans battling addiction. 

The report also notes that increased access to addiction treatment—especially through Medicaid—has contributed to a recent national decline in overdose-related deaths. Cutting Medicaid now would reverse that progress, especially in states like Arizona, where the crisis is ongoing, and Medicaid expansion plays a critical role in treatment access. 

“As a border state, Arizona is on the frontlines of the fentanyl crisis, and thousands rely on Medicaid for life-saving addiction treatment,” said Kelly, a member of the Joint Economic Committee. “Trump and Republicans want to pull the rug out from under them just as we’re making progress. I’ll keep fighting to protect access to treatment and stop these reckless cuts.” 

“Combating the fentanyl crisis demands a multi-pronged approach, and that includes ensuring access to affordable addiction treatment for the Arizonans who need it. But if Congressional Republicans get their way, over 22,000 Arizonans will have their treatment coverage stripped away overnight just so that billionaires can get a tax break. Arizonans deserve better,” said Gallego.

“Medicaid is often the only lifeline for vulnerable Arizonans seeking treatment and recovery services,” said Stanton. “Extreme Republicans’ proposed cuts to Medicaid would surrender one of our best tools to combat the fentanyl crisis in Arizona. We need to keep expanding health care access–not cutting it to give tax breaks to billionaires.” 

“Everyone struggling with addiction deserves access to the treatment options they need for recovery,” said Ansari. “To truly combat the fentanyl crisis, we need to invest in comprehensive addiction recovery treatment programs, starting by expanding Medicaid, which enables millions more people to get the treatment they need. Instead, Trump and Republicans have a plan to slash Medicaid, which would jeopardize addiction care and make the fentanyl crisis worse. We should be committed to protecting and expanding Medicaid so that anyone battling addiction can access the care they need.” 

Background:   

Kelly has been sounding the alarm on the devastating impact Medicaid cuts would have on Arizona families. Last month, he traveled across the state to hear directly from Arizonans—including parents, caregivers, and health care providers—about how they would be affected. At town halls in Scottsdale and Tucson, Kelly listened to stories from families who rely on AHCCCS to get life-saving care. He then brought those voices back to Washington, sharing them on the Senate floor to make clear what’s at stake.