Health advocacy groups today urged the federal government to uphold the Affordable Care Act and avoid cuts to state funding of Medicaid.

Cutting Medicaid could pose health risks to 18,070 Missouri residents with cancer, 68,250 with diabetes, 153,470 with chronic lung disease and 166,150 with heart disease, according to a report released today by Families USA, the American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Association and the American Lung Association.

The figures on estimated Missourians who are on Medicaid and have the health problems were calculated using census and other data.

The federal government matches funds Missouri spends on its Medicaid insurance program for low-income residents. Under health care reform, eligibility for Medicaid is set to expand in 2014.

To read the whole report, visit here.