Rep. Dave Min, Health Care Advocates Speak Out Against Republican Cuts to Medicaid
Rep. Min: “I'm the father of three young kids myself, and I cannot fathom the idea that they would be denied health care coverage all so that we could fund a tax cut for billionaires”
Irvine, CA — Representative Dave Min (CA-47), Dr. Kate Williamson, former President of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Orange County Chapter, Mercedes Mata, the mother of Dino, a six-year-old brain cancer patient from Huntington Beach who relies on Medicaid, and Joy Anne Fumera, a registered nurse at Kaiser Permanente Orange County, spoke out against the consequences Republican Medicaid cuts will have on Orange County families.
Watch Representative Min’s full remarks (0:00-5:11).
“Children's hospitals like CHOC across the state of California are going to be closed down if these Medicaid cuts go through,” said Rep. Min. “This is not just going to impact Medicaid patients. It's going to impact all of us who have children. It's going to deny us from getting health care, emergency health care for our kids, because our hospitals just can't afford to keep the doors open.”
Watch Dr. Kate Williamson’s full remarks (5:11-8:25).
“Forty percent of California births are covered by Medicaid. That is nearly half of our babies who are born in hospitals and getting support in those first few days, which is so crucial,” said Dr. Williamson. “Any cut to Medicaid will harm every single child who is removed from that program, and in fact, will harm every child in California because of the ripple effects that this will have on our state.”
Watch Joy Anne Fumera’s full remarks (8:25-9:42).
“Right now, my patients are scared,” said Joy Anne Fumera. “Life is already so expensive. And cutting Medicaid means their families won't be able to afford the health care costs. There's no other option. Without Medicaid, they will not be able to receive the care that they need to remain healthy and productive members of society.”
Watch Mercedes Matta’s full remarks (9:42-11:33).
“CCS, for me, means my son is alive,” said Mercedes Matta. “Over 40 million children are covered by Medicaid across the US, and over one third of the children who are on Medicaid are being diagnosed with cancer. And that includes my son. I do have my own private insurance for Blue Shield, but it's not enough…Who are you going to rely on if you cut these programs? Children all over are going to be at risk. And truly, it could be a death sentence for them.”
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