Approximately 1,000 demonstrators gathered outside the field office of Congresswoman Young Kim in Anaheim on Tuesday, April 22nd, to protest proposed cuts to Medicaid by Republican leaders in Congress. The rally was held at 180 N. Riverview Dr., and aimed to draw attention to the potential impacts of these cuts on healthcare for 81 million Americans.
Protesters expressed their concerns over Kim’s recent vote in support of a continuing resolution that, critics argue, would result in billions of dollars in cuts to Medicaid.
The demonstration, organized by a coalition of workers, families, and community members, highlighted the urgency of protecting vital Medicaid services.
One speaker emphasized the need for accountability, stating, “She may say one thing, but we want to make sure she does the right thing by letting her know that people care and need this public good.”
Despite the peaceful nature of the protest, Anaheim police handed out tickets to some demonstrators for blocking the roadway. Officers intervened as a dozen protesters briefly blocked a driveway, issuing citations but making no arrests. Protesters continued to march, chant, and lay down outside Kim’s office in solidarity against the proposed Medicaid cuts.
In response to the protest, Rep. Young Kim released a statement on social media, asserting, “A budget that does not protect vital Medicaid services for the most vulnerable citizens in my community will not receive my vote.”
Potential cuts to Medicaid are part of a broader debate among Republicans on how to align with budget proposals from the Trump administration while also addressing critical programs like Medicaid and Medi-Cal. Some GOP leaders argue that a comprehensive overhaul of Medicaid could help maintain benefits while achieving necessary spending cuts.
According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, “Medicaid covered approximately one in five Americans and accounted for $618 billion in federal spending last year. With over 70 million Americans enrolled, this program provides essential healthcare services to low-income adults, families, individuals with disabilities, and others in need.”
The Commonwealth Fund states that “while Medicaid is a health insurance program jointly administered by the federal government and the states, about two-thirds of the funding for state Medicaid programs is federal. Medicaid is the largest source of federal funding for states.” In contrast, SNAP nutrition benefits are funded solely by the federal government. Cutting hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding for Medicaid and SNAP could weaken states’ economies and lead to substantial job losses through a “multiplier effect.”
“Although Medicaid and SNAP provide vital health coverage and food assistance to low-income Americans, the direct recipients of Medicaid payments and SNAP benefits are often health care providers—such as hospitals, doctors’ offices, pharmacies, and nursing homes—as well as grocery and food stores. Cuts in federal funding for Medicaid and SNAP can decrease revenue for these businesses and their employees, creating ripple effects across other businesses and workers in their supply chains, including medical equipment suppliers, food producers, and farms.
“These affected businesses may respond by reducing staffing, cutting salaries, or decreasing purchases of other goods and services. Employees who lose their jobs or income may have to cut back on spending on consumer goods and services, such as food, housing, and transportation. This reduction in spending can also decrease the tax revenue that state and local governments collect, including sales, income, and property taxes.
“Medicaid, authorized by Title XIX of the Social Security Act, was signed into law in 1965 alongside Medicare. All states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories have Medicaid programs to provide health coverage for low-income individuals. While the federal government establishes specific guidelines for all states to follow, each state administers its Medicaid program differently, resulting in variations in coverage across the country. These critical health coverage programs serve millions of families, including children, pregnant women, adults without children, seniors, and individuals living with disabilities.”
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, “Medicaid is the largest program providing medical and health-related services to low-income people.” Originally, Medicaid was available only to those receiving cash assistance; however, Congress expanded eligibility to include children and selected adult groups over time. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (HCERA) initiated significant changes to Medicaid. Subsequent references to the ACA in Health, United States, include changes enacted by the ACA or HCERA.
“States are mandated by federal law to cover certain population groups but are granted flexibility in covering others (42 USC 1396 et seq). In the standard benefits package, states must cover mandatory benefits (for example, physician services) but may include optional benefits (for example, tuberculosis-related services). States determine individual eligibility criteria within federal minimum standards. Before the ACA, many states expanded Medicaid coverage above these federal minimums, and many have chosen to maintain this additional coverage.
“Broadly, there are four major eligibility groups covered by most states: children, adults with disabilities, elderly adults, and nondisabled adults.” A detailed discussion of each group can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus/sources-definitions/medicaid.htm#:~:text=Medicaid%20was%20originally%20available%20only,discussion%20of%20each%20group%20follows.
The rally was coordinated by CLUE, an organization dedicated to educating and mobilizing the faith community to support workers in their quest for good jobs, dignity, and justice. As the discussion on Medicaid cuts continues, advocates emphasize the importance of maintaining access to healthcare for millions of vulnerable citizens across the nation. For more information on CLUE visit: www.cluejustice.org
CLUE: Building a Just and Sacred Society · 464 Lucas Ave, Suite 202, Los Angeles, CA 90017
Faith-Rooted Organizer, Orange County Clergy & Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE) call (661) 373-8679
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Categories: Health, Local Events, Local Government, Local News
“A budget that does not protect vital Medicaid services for the most vulnerable citizens in my community will not receive my vote.”
Young Kim has shown actions speak louder than words. Her lips might say one thing, but at the end of the end, watch how she votes.