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 32% of children in PA-15.
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-15, 18% rely on SNAP.
Rep. Glenn Thompson 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 Child’s Story
Billie Jo Desantis, Falls Creek, PA
Billie Jo’s son was recently diagnosed with autism and is nonverbal. Through Medicaid, his copays for specialist visits and screenings are covered, as well as the therapy services he receives. There has been a notable improvement in his development since he received these services.
“Medicaid has alleviated the stress of added medical bills that come with a child who has special needs; he has chronic ear infections and may need tubes in his ears. I can’t imagine what $200+ medical bills a month would look like on top of all our other costs. Without Medicaid, medical bills would be the last thing being paid because keeping a roof over my family’s head, water, electric, food on the table, and clothes on their backs are most important.”
“Without Medicaid, he would no longer be receiving his services, or they would probably be cut back significantly, and any progress we have seen would be to the wayside. I try to work with him as best as I can, but I work full time as a physical therapist assistant and come home and am a full-time mother. I’m learning how to help him just as much as he’s learning how to help himself, so these services help me and help him.”
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 these critical safety net programs.
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.
