Hundreds March On McCarthy’s Office To Protest Possible Health Care Changes
Organizers of Friday’s event say 51 percent of Rep. Kevin McCarthy's constituents rely on Medicare and Medicaid
The Bakersfield Californian:
Healthcare Advocates Keep Up The Heat On McCarthy
Hundreds of people from across California gathered in Bakersfield Friday — many arriving on buses — to express concerns to Congressman Kevin McCarthy about their future access to healthcare under a new presidential administration. People from Bakersfield, Fresno, Sacramento, Kingsburg, Riverside, San Francisco, Los Angeles and more first met up at Yokuts Park then marched to the House majority leader’s office hoping to relay one message: It’s time to “protect, improve and expand” programs like Medicare and Medicaid, not cut them. (Sanchez, 1/28)
In other news —
Capital Public Radio/KXJZ:
Proposed Medicaid Funding Changes Could Lead To Medi-Cal Cuts
President Donald Trump and his administration want to turn Medicaid into a block grant program, which means the federal government would give California a fixed amount of funding for Medi-Cal, the state’s version of Medicaid. Currently, the federal government covers 50 percent of the state’s Medi-Cal cost and 95 percent for Medi-Cal expansion. Edwin Park, vice president for Health Policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, says block grants reduce federal Medicaid spending and shift costs to states. (Johnson, 1/27)