MILWAUKEE, WI – Yesterday, U.S. Congresswoman Gwen Moore, Wisconsin State Senator LaTonya Johnson and a group of advocates joined Protect Our Care Wisconsin to warn what’s at stake if the Trump Administration and Republican Congress move forward with their plan to slash trillions from Medicaid. 

The discussion took place amid nationwide chaos over state Medicaid portals being temporarily inaccessible due to a directive from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Beyond executive branch threats to essential services for more than 1.4 million Wisconsinites, Republican planning documents suggest block granting, lifetime caps, and other draconian reporting measures are on the table as potential “pay fors” in order to justify $4.6 trillion in tax breaks to corporations and the wealthy. 

Speakers shared powerful stories of their own experiences on Medicaid. Without essential Medicaid funding, working families, children, and seniors won’t be able to see a doctor when they need it the most and many with challenges will be unable to continue to live productive lives of dignity. 

If the GOP proposals move forward, 72 million Americans will be at risk of losing critical health care coverage they need to stay healthy. This effort isn’t only wrong, but it’s also deeply unpopular. Most Americans have favorable views toward Medicaid and overwhelmingly oppose cuts to the program. For years, rising health care costs have been on the top of people’s minds, and they have been a core part of the public’s economic concerns. Speakers called on lawmakers to protect access to health care for Wisconsinites, not take it away.

Parent advocates highlighted the Katie Beckett Medicaid program and IRIS as specific programs that support children and adults with essential wrap-around services that allow parents to continue working – and oftentimes utilize employer sponsored coverage to defray costs to Medicaid – and recipients to work steady jobs and participate in community activities such as the Special Olympics.

“We are very, very concerned (about threats to Medicaid),” said Congresswoman Moore, citing concerns about the future of community health centers, for nursing homes, and existing protections for unemployment compensation for those who deliver services to beneficiaries. “From cradle to grave, Medicaid has an impact on everybody,” added Moore. 

Jessica Seawright, a social worker and therapist who is a parent advocate, was on Medicaid as a child. Her mom needed support and thanks in part to Medicaid was able to complete the schooling required to become a nurse. Today, her own son requires Katie Beckett Medicaid on top of her and her husband’s employer sponsored coverage. “Medicaid allows our family stability,” she noted.

Kevin Fech, another parent advocate, appeared alongside his adult son Tyler, who has his own small business and competes in Special Olympics. “Medicaid has made making medical decisions much easier,” said Fech. “Having access to Medicaid allows him (Tyler) to live a life of dignity.”

“I’m a lot cheaper living in my community than I am in an institution,” noted Cindy Bentley, Executive Director of People First Wisconsin, who shared that she was born with fetal alcohol syndrome due to decisions made by her mother. Ms. Bentley was raised in institutions until she was 26 years old. Today, she is an active member of her community thanks to the support of Medicaid.

Amid the conversation, Nancy Gapinski shared her experiences caring for loved ones who needed Medicaid and put it simply, “ the needs don’t go away when the funding does” in an appeal to protect these vital services.

State Senator LaTonya Johnson also joined the group, expressing her hope that Wisconsin would finally move beyond the sad distinction of being one of just two states that has refused to extend postpartum Medicaid for new moms and babies from 90 days to a full year – a step that would directly impact Wisconsin’s abysmal postpartum mortality rates for black women, who are five times more likely to die in the year after giving birth than white women.  

To interview participants in yesterday’s event please contact Protect Our Care Wisconsin State Director Joe Zepecki at jz@jzcomms.com. You can learn more about the threat to Medicaid here