As the federal government considers major healthcare cuts, community members and advocacy groups gathered at the Bakersfield American Indian Health Project on April 30 to speak out against proposed federal Medicaid cuts that could impact local families.
District 22, which includes Kern County, has one of the highest percentages of Medi-Cal enrollees in the nation. 67% of local residents rely on it for healthcare.
The event, titled “Future of Healthcare Hinges on Congressional Vote — Children at Risk,” was hosted by American Community Media and featured a panel of local and statewide experts who shared personal stories, policy insights, and urgent calls to action.
The Bakersfield American Indian Health Project (BAIHP), is a clinic that provides culturally rooted medical and behavioral healthcare to Native Americans and Alaska Natives in need.
“There are over 24,000 Native Americans currently living in Kern County,” said Tara Gray, Tribal Liaison for the BAIHP. “And our clinic serves people from more than 200 tribes.”
Gray explained that no other clinic in Kern County offers the same services specifically tailored to Native American populations. Without BAIHP, many patients would have to travel hours for care they can now get close to home.
The clinic is set to become a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in June, which would allow them to expand services and access more sustainable funding. But slashing Medicaid now could derail that progress.
In February, Congress passed a budget resolution requiring up to $880 billion in federal cuts, much of it targeting Medicaid. Committees in the House of Representatives, including the Energy and Commerce Committee, are now drafting proposals to meet those cuts. A vote is expected this summer, before Congress goes on recess in August.
Joy Johnson from the Western Center on Law and Poverty said that the cuts aren’t set in stone. “If Representative Valadao and just a few other Republicans vote no, the proposal could fail. That’s how close the margin is,” she said.
If the cuts go through, Johnson explained that California could also be forced to reduce or eliminate services that aren’t required by federal law like dental care, in-home support for seniors, and behavioral health services.
“The idea that cutting Medicaid saves money is a myth,” Johnson said. “Without coverage, people get sicker, need more expensive treatment, and can’t work. That hurts families and the economy.”
Johnson said in District 22 alone, nearly 140,000 people could lose coverage. Hospitals would take a financial hit, counties would face new obligations to care for the uninsured, and nearly 7,000 local jobs could disappear leading to a 20% spike in unemployment in the region.
“Even if you’re not on Medi-Cal, these cuts will affect you,” Johnson warned. “They’ll impact the hospitals we all use, the local economy, and our ability to get care when we need it.”
Ulisses Hernandez who was born with TAR syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that affects bone growth and blood platelet levels, relies on Medi-Cal to meet his daily medical needs.
From his power wheelchair to essential equipment like wound care supplies, dressing aids, and a bathroom stick, Medi-Cal makes his independence possible.
“If these cuts happen, I would no longer have access to wheelchair repair. I would no longer have access to wound care for my backside. I would be devastated,” Hernandez said.
Now living in Bakersfield after moving from Los Angeles for health and safety reasons, Hernandez described the struggle of adapting to a new city while managing a severe disability. Navigating curbs without ramps, crossing streets in a wheelchair, and trying to live as independently as possible have all been challenges he’s worked to overcome.
But without Medi-Cal, even his basic ability to get to the store or attend medical appointments would be jeopardized.
“I rely on my power chair to go to school, to the supermarket, to my appointments. I have to live with the fact that one day, my mom or my brother won’t be here to help me. That’s why my insurance is so important I need it to live,” he said.
Devon Newton, a veteran, emergency medical technician, and father of a child with a disability, also shared his medical story.
“My son’s condition left his spinal cord exposed. He will be physically disabled for life,” Newton said. “Every step forward has been a battle. Every time we needed help, we were told, ‘He’s not sick enough. He doesn’t qualify.’ But he’s my son. He’s everything. And he needs care.”
Newton shared how hard it was to get the medical help his son needed. His family had to fight to get things like a wheelchair, braces, surgeries, and regular care.
“These programs barely keep people’s heads above water,” Newton said. “Cutting them isn’t about saving money. It’s about sacrificing families like mine for someone else’s profit. That’s not just wrong, it’s unjust.”
What’s Next?
Johnson explained that budget negotiations are happening now behind closed doors in Washington D.C. On May 7, the House Energy and Commerce Committee will release its official proposals for cuts. Other committees will follow, with a full budget plan expected by June or July. Congress hopes to finalize it before the August recess.
