Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – An Illinois House committee got an earful Wednesday of the possible consequences of proposed federal cuts to Medicaid.

One prominent idea is to cut $880 billion over ten years. In addition to people losing coverage and hospitals having to at least partially close, Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services director Lizzy Whitehorn (pictured) said hospitals are economic engines.

“Medicaid impacts reach far beyond direct care,” said Whitehorn. “Medicaid bolsters the economy, it creates jobs, and it directs critical resources to local communities.”

There appears to be no Plan B.

“We don’t have the resources to cover the gap,” said the committee chair, State Rep. Anna Moeller (D-Elgin). “If Congress moves forward with these cuts, it’s going to result in the loss of healthcare for hundreds of thousands of people.”

Moeller said all state lawmakers can really do is hope members of Congress listen and make good decisions.

“I wish this was just fearmongering, but it’s just basic logic,” said State Rep. Nabeela Syed (D-Palatine). “If they don’t get that healthcare, they may die.”

But State Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Murrayville) was displeased. “ItLawmakers, advocates fear federal cuts to Medicaid is grandstanding like this,” he said, “that makes individuals on my side of the aisle not want to reach out to the congressmen. It makes it purely political, and don’t look at me like you don’t know what I’m talking about.”

Republicans are in control in Washington, and the Illinois delegation includes three of them: U.S. Reps. Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro), Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap), and Mary Miller (R-Hindsboro).

More than 3.4 million Illinoisans – about one in four – are on Medicaid.