U.S. Rep. Rob Menendez (D-8) visited the Bayada Assistive Care office in Union City yesterday for a discussion on home-based care services impacted by Medicaid cuts.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
Menendez noted Medicaid has been severely cut by Republicans, despite the millions of Americans who rely on it.
“We know how essential health care is to everyone in the district … And a lot of people in our district rely on Medicaid and programs funded by Medicaid. We want to make sure we continue to try to improve our healthcare,” Menendez stated.
“We want to make sure everyone has access to good, quality, affordable healthcare, and that is what our work in Washington is driven by.”
The congressman also noted the importance of sharing personal stories to persuade Republicans in Washington, D.C. who say there is a lot of fraud and abuse by those who are not actually disabled.
Home health care worker Mercedes Keller then welcomed Menendez in Spanish.
“My grandmother, when she had Alzheimer’s, it was my aunt who took care of her here in Union City on West Street. I’ve seen how important home care is to our community,” he added.
A patient named Monica, who declined to give her last name. asked about how the cuts from Medicaid.
Menendez said the Republican-led House of Representatives cut $1 trillion from Medicaid to an astonished audience.
“That’s what we were fighting against, those cuts. Republicans wanted to justify those cuts, saying it was about broad waste and able-bodied people who refuse to get a job,” he recalled.
For that reason, Menendez noted it is imperative to show legitimate examples of those who are disabled on Medicaid who need help at home.
He also explained that Affordable Care Act (ACA), often referred to as Obamacare, healthcare exchange subsidies for incentives were allowed to expire, which has made the price rise, which made many drop coverage, which likely caused it to further rise.
“The premiums for everyone have risen. Republicans have shrunk the pool of individuals who are eligible for health care insurance,” Menendez added.
A healthcare worker named Diana, who also didn’t give her last name, noted in Spanish that she enjoyed serving the community, but lamented the same pay the same as other blue-collar jobs in warehouses and supermarkets.
She questioned why it was similar, adding in Spanish that she needed more shifts on a regular schedule as well.
“There should be more money for our healthcare professionals from the federal government,” Menendez argued, noting that corporations like Amazon that operate warehouses should also support their workers, given their great success.
A patient named Gaston noted he has a home aid manager juggling a small budget and a tight management schedule. He had to stop working due to a severe medical condition that he did not disclose and expressed concerns about healthcare cuts.
“Is that even gonna get worse? If the super majority is flipped, can that be fixed?” he asked.
“Absolutely, we want to reverse all the cuts made,” Menendez replied.
“Where do you expect people to go? … There is no place for people to go,” Gaston declared.
“These are essential critical programs for a reason. We need to think about how we can improve them,” Menendez stated.
A patient named Monica explained she is a Cuban refugee on disability whose psychiatric medication has not been effective, which led to depression and social anxiety which worsened her health.
She noted the stigma of being on welfare is strong in conservative Cuban families.
“Any issue with the federal government, especially immigration, is something we’re working at every single day … regardless of what your status is,” Menendez said to conclude the discussion.
