Local woman keeping close eye on Medicaid issue

Michigan governor committed to health care for all

By Barb Pert Templeton

Dealing with a disability shouldn’t come down to dollars and cents.

Yet if the proposed call to cut $880 million dollars from the Medicaid program in the House of Representatives FY 2024-25 budget bill occurs many households across the country will be affected.

That’s exactly what is “scaring the hell out of” Dawn Davey right now,

Davey has an adult daughter with disabilities and continues to watch all developments related to Medicaid funding with much trepidation.

Medicaid is a health insurance program for people with low incomes or certain disabilities. About 72 million people, or about a fifth of all the people living in the United States, are enrolled.

Davey, who’s the mayor pro tem in Algonac, is also a member of the ARC board in St. Clair County. The ARC is a non-profit that’s committed to supporting and protecting the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities while advocating for their full inclusion and participation in the community.

For Davey, losing Medicaid dollars that allow her daughter to live independently and provide aides for things like grocery shopping would be devastating.

“I need to know that my daughter will be able to live independently when I’m not around,” Davey said.

Currently, Davey said she’s working with her colleagues at The Arc of St. Clair County and The Arc of Michigan’s Governmental Affairs Committee. They are doing all they can to shed light on

how the proposed cuts to Medicaid will affect not only the groups they advocate for but also many working families.

CEO of the ARC of the United States Katy Neas, made an appearance on CNN in late February and addressed some of the concerns. She said at some point everyone will face an issue with disabilities.

“Disabilities are a natural part of the human experience and at some point, whether it’s due to age, illness or injury, all are likely to face an issue with a disability,” Neas said. “People with disabilities are in our families in our communities every day and are part of the group of people that we all love.”

While drastic cuts at the federal level, where officials are looking for waste and fraud, are being considered, the end result will likely land close to home, Davey said.

She really wants to remind everyone that if the cuts are made at the federal level that means the responsibility will fall on the states and where are they going to come up with that kind of funding for families in need?

“And people don’t get it, this is not just for lazy welfare moms,” Davey said. “They just don’t understand how it could affect them or their loved ones.”

For example, if your mom’s doctor tells you that she can’t live on her own anymore and will need either in-home assisted care or inpatient in a nursing home Medicare only covers 100 days of that and then Medicaid has to kick in, Davey said.

“Unless they’ve prepared for this (with long-term care insurance) it’s Medicaid that will allow her needs to be met,” she said, but the funding has to be there.

At the state level

When Blue Water Healthy Living contacted the governor’s office seeking comment on the potential health care crisis Deputy Press Secretary Shreya Bandyopadhyay, for the Executive Office of the Governor, said the Whitmer-Gilchrist administration is committed to protecting and expanding Michiganders’ access to health care. In fact, both have hosted Medicaid roundtables over the last few months to address concerns across the board.

Since taking office, Governor Whitmer has expanded the Healthy Michigan Plan to cover hundreds of thousands of people, signed bills codifying the Affordable Care Act into Michigan state law, and committed to working across the aisle to reduce medical debt for nearly 700,000 Michiganders, Bandyopadhyay said.

“As Republicans rush to cut $880 billion from Medicaid to fund a $4 trillion tax cut for the rich, the Whitmer-Gilchrist administration remains committed to working with anyone to ensure every Michigander can get the health care they need without worrying about the bill,” Bandyopadhyay said. “The Whitmer-Gilchrist administration also encourages individuals who have concerns about Medicaid coverage to reach out to their congressional representatives.”

Back here in Algonac, this is a recent post Davey said she shared on her Facebook page noting why she’s so invested in what’s happening in Congress and why everyone needs to pay close attention:

· We are in this fight to give those we advocate for a voice.

· We are in this fight to ensure they keep the services needed to allow them to live their lives to the fullest.

· I am in this fight to make sure that my daughter can continue to live independently long after I’m gone.

· We are in this fight so that this community of adults can reach their full potential and live their best lives.

· We aren’t going down without a fight.