ATLANTA (WJBF) – Senator Jon Ossoff warned cuts to Medicaid could also risk the closing of rural hospitals, as about 11% of hospitals’ incomes in Georgia come from Medicaid funding.

Senate Republicans blocked Senator Ossoff’s amendment that aimed to protect children and maternal health care through Medicaid.

A new study shows 18 out of Georgia’s 30 rural hospitals face the risk of closure and Ossoff said these cuts will only make the situation worse and damage the health and safety of Georgians putting kids, pregnant mothers and seniors at risk.

“Two out of five children are covered by Medicaid,” said Ossoff. “Seventy percent of seniors in nursing homes are covered by Medicaid. And half of our all births in Georgia are covered by Medicaid. If they destroy Medicaid, they will destroy in healthcare for Georgians.”

Republican lawmakers in Congress are looking to cut $880 billion dollars in costs through 2034. For Georgia, that could be about $16 billion dollars on the chopping block cut for Medicaid and Peach Care for kids.