ICYMI: Kelly, Gallego Hear from Arizonans on Impacts of Medicaid Cuts During a Town Hall
Today, Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego hosted a town hall in Phoenix to hear directly from Arizonans about the real-life consequences of Republican-led efforts to cut Medicaid. These proposed cuts would strip health care from working families, seniors, and people with disabilities in order to give tax breaks to the wealthy and big corporations.
AHCCCS, Arizona’s Medicaid program, provides health care for more than two million Arizonans, including over 750,000 who gained coverage through Arizona’s Medicaid expansion and Proposition 204. AHCCCS ensures low-income families, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities can access essential medical services, including doctor visits, prescriptions, and long-term care. Cutting Medicaid would not only take away coverage but also put hospitals and community health centers at risk of closing, making it harder for all Arizonans to get the care they need.
During the discussion, Kelly and Gallego heard directly from health care providers about the devastating impact these cuts would have on their patients, as well as from families who rely on Medicaid to keep their children healthy. One family shared their fears about what these cuts would mean for children with severe special needs, saying, “We feel incredibly powerless trying to plan for our family [ …]. We’re trying to shield ourselves before we’re wounded, and we don’t know how. […] Would you mind telling your colleagues in Washington that when they’re burning down this house, there’s people still inside. My children are inside.” They explained that Medicaid covers their daughter’s complex medical needs and described the uncertainty families like theirs already face in the face of impending cuts.
Kelly and Gallego told constituents that they are fighting back in Washington to stop these harmful policies and protect Arizonans’ access to health care. They encouraged attendees to stay engaged and continue making their voices heard to prevent devastating cuts to Medicaid.
