Article Summary –
Erin Gabriel’s daughter, Abby, who was predicted not to survive or communicate, has thrived due to early intervention and Medicaid, but potential Medicaid cuts could threaten her continued support and that of many other disabled children. Proposed federal Medicaid cuts, intended to fund tax reductions and deportation measures, have caused significant distress among parents, who fear their children will lose access to necessary health services if such cuts are implemented. Public sentiment largely opposes these cuts, with advocates emphasizing that reducing Medicaid funding cannot be achieved without harming vulnerable populations, despite claims focusing on eliminating waste and fraud, which are primarily attributed to healthcare providers rather than beneficiaries.
Shortly after Erin Gabriel gave birth to her daughter, Abby, doctors predicted she wouldn’t outlive her child. As an infant, Abby faced numerous health conditions, including difficulty swallowing and feeding. Diagnosed as deaf, blind, medically complex, and autistic, doctors told Gabriel her daughter would never communicate or walk.
Defying the odds, Abby, now 15, communicates, walks, loves Taylor Swift, and is a Disney fan. She uses a speaker to feel music vibrations, enjoys car washes, and attends live shows like “Hamilton.” Abby is described by her mother as a happy child who’s always smiling.
Abby’s progress was possible because of early access to Medicaid. Gabriel credits Medicaid for providing her daughter with a team of early interventionists, enabling Abby to walk, eat, and communicate through sign language. Medicaid also funded a one-on-one therapist at school and essential medical equipment.
However, the future is uncertain as congressional Republicans propose cutting Medicaid, a crucial program for three million Pennsylvanians. The House resolution suggests $4.5 trillion in tax cuts while reducing federal spending by $2 trillion, including a potential $880 billion cut from Medicaid.
Gabriel, who also works with the Pennsylvania Health Access Network, fears these cuts could endanger lives. She emphasizes that the first to suffer will be those with disabilities, seniors, and children as these groups heavily rely on Medicaid.
Parents, like Toni Danchik, share these fears, as proposed Medicaid cuts could eliminate home health aides for children like her daughter Christine, who has Down syndrome and needs constant care. Danchik worries about the impact on her ability to work and her daughter’s future care. Another parent, April Chirdon, relies on Medicaid for her son’s epilepsy treatment and is anxious about financial ruin without it.
‘A very scary and dark future’
With potential Medicaid cuts looming, parents are overwhelmed with anxiety and fear for their children’s future. Gabriel is terrified about what will happen to her daughter when she’s gone, especially if Medicaid services are cut to fund other initiatives. This anxiety is shared by many who fear their children may lose crucial health services not covered by private insurance.
For Pennsylvania’s 87,000 children with disabilities, Medicaid provides critical support alongside private insurance. Gabriel worries about what happens if Medicaid cuts are enacted, leaving Abby without the coverage she needs as she ages.
Bethel Park resident Danchik highlights how cuts could end her daughter’s access to a home health aide, crucial for Christine’s around-the-clock care. Parents are stressed and sleepless, consumed by the threat of losing essential Medicaid services.
Chirdon also relies on Medicaid for ambulance costs and daily medication for her son. Without it, financial ruin seems inevitable.
‘There’s no way to cut Medicaid without hurting kids like mine’
Abby’s mother argues that proposed cuts would devastate the 60-year-old Medicaid program, which covers 79.3 million Americans. Polls show most Americans oppose these cuts, preferring to maintain or increase funding.
Parents urge lawmakers to resist these cuts, emphasizing Medicaid’s importance. Republican Sen. Dave McCormick has suggested focusing on waste, fraud, and abuse, but data indicates Medicaid fraud is primarily committed by providers, not beneficiaries.
Former Pennsylvania health secretary Teresa Miller asserts controls are in place to address fraud, debunking the notion that significant savings can be made without affecting beneficiaries. Gabriel stresses there’s no safe way to cut Medicaid without harming those who rely on it.
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