Congress is considering the largest cuts to Medicaid in the program’s history, as well as significant cuts to SNAP.
Medicaid provides health insurance to nearly 1.3 million Pennsylvania children, including 49% of children in PA-8.
Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budgets and afford nutritious food essential to health and well-being, is also on the chopping block. Of all children in PA-8, 33% rely on SNAP.
Rep. Robert Bresnahan voted to cut Medicaid and SNAP.
As families grapple with the rising costs of everyday expenses, it’s more important than ever that they have access to high-quality, affordable health care for both physical and mental health, as well as nutritious foods.
One Family’s Story
Katherine Dinkelacker, Cresco, PA
Katherine is a pastor in Monroe County and is a single mom to her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Thea, who has health coverage through Medicaid. Thea has a sensory processing disorder, and she was born with torticollis. Thea has been attending weekly physical and occupational therapy sessions since she was 3 months old, and also wore a helmet as a baby.
Even though Katherine has a master’s degree and works hard as a pastor, she does not make enough money in her salary to afford the weekly copays that are required for Thea’s therapies. Without Medicaid, Katherine would not be able to afford the cost of Thea’s OT and PT, and she would be forced to discontinue her treatment, which would impact Thea’s ability to strengthen her fine motor skills that make her successful for everyday living and keeping up with her peers.
The elimination of health care and food benefits will have immediate adverse effects on the health and well-being of the children and families who depend on them.
We cannot afford the largest cuts in the history of the Medicaid program, or devastating cuts to SNAP.
To learn more, check out these resources: Medicaid and CHIP enrollment fact sheets and the State of Children’s Health in Pennsylvania.
