A crowd of health workers and Medi-Cal patients rallied outside Congressman David Valadao’s office on January 8 to convince Valadao to oppose any possible loss cuts to Medi-Cal.
The “Hands Off Our Healthcare” protest was held throughout three different districts in California. Including Bakersfield, Anaheim, and Palm Desert.
The concerns of possible cuts came to be after the the US House of Representatives might announce their “Budget Reconciliation” proposal to cut federal health care funding as a way to help pay for the ‘Billionaire Tax Cuts’ that Trump and Congressional leaders want to pass for their donor-class.
Over 92 million people in the U.S. and 15 million people in California reply on Medi-Cal.
Monica Escalante, a Bakersfield resident, has been a health care provider for Virginia Cortez for over two years and said if there were funding cuts to Medi-Cal Cortez will not be able to get the approval and care she needs.
Medi-Cal covers all of Cortez’s medications, supplies, and even her shoes. Escalante shared that Cortez is also diabetic, so everything matters, even her nail care and circulation.
Escalante expressed that cuts to Medi-Cal would be devastating. She explained that cuts would force more people into institutions, which she said is already overwhelming and less personal.
Escalante believes if Cortez is forced to be into an institution she thinks she would not survive.
“If Medi-Cal is cut, I’m going to die. I’m not ready to die yet,” Cortez said about her worries about funding cuts.
“I’m [getting worse] everyday. I’ve seen doctors and specialists, but no one can figure out what’s wrong with me,” Cortez said of her ongoing struggle with her health.
Despite her health struggles, Cortez is thankful and appreciative for the help she receives from Escalante and calls out decision makers to protect Medi-Cal, not reduce it.
“As much as she needs me, I need her,” Escalante said about her role as Cortez’s caregiver. “She’ll tell you she’s my family. She said she’s going to live with me when she can’t help herself anymore.”
During the rally several health care workers expressed their concerns about possible funding cuts to Medi-Cal.
Yolanda Navarro, Materials Management at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital said Medi-Cal provides vital health care coverage to seniors, children, low-income families, and rural communities.
“[Health care is] for everybody… David Valadao, if you can hear us, keep your hands off our Medi-Cal because we need it as families and communities in this county,” said Navarro.
