The Catholic understanding of health care requires medical assistance be readily available for all, including and especially low-income populations. Health care should also encompass the whole person, addressing both physical and behavioral health needs. As Congress looks to rewrite the Affordable Care Act, legislative efforts to protect Medicaid funding for poor and elderly persons will remain critical in the state, as will ensuring that health care policies do not threaten life or restrict the right to conscience. In the area of health care, MCC supports:

• Protection of health coverage for low- and moderate- income individuals and families,
• Appropriate Medicaid funding to ensure adequate coverage for recipients and payments to providers,
• Opposition to legislation that threatens the mission of institutional and individual faith-based providers, and
• Policies that ensure adequate resources for behavioral and physical health care, including addictions.