Roughly one million Orange County residents could see their medical benefits cut as federal officials weigh cutting Medi-Cal and Medicaid funds, which county supervisors protested this week as they wrestle with a shrinking budget.
While it remains unclear just how much funding could be cut, there are ongoing discussions in Congress about cutting Medicaid and similar programs to offset proposed tax cuts and spending on other programs.
Right now, approximately one in three Orange County residents receives support in some way from Medi-Cal, according to county Supervisor Doug Chaffee.
Veronica Kelley, head of the county healthcare agency, said the possible cuts go well beyond just Medicaid or Medi-Cal as well at the county board of supervisor’s meeting on Tuesday morning.
“We’re budgeted for $180 million in financial participation,” Kelley said. “If Medicaid is cut, we won’t be able to draw down on those dollars…that will affect all our block grants.”
Every year, over $12 billion from Medi-Cal comes into Orange County according to Supervisor Doug Chaffee, who brought the resolution opposing cuts to Medicaid before the board.
On Tuesday morning alone, supervisors approved nearly $70 million worth of contracts that reported at least a portion of their funding coming from Medi-Cal or other federal grants that could be cut.
While the county’s proposed budget isn’t expected to be publicly released until May 21, county officials have already announced cuts at local health clinics and have warned other cuts are likely on the way.
[Read: Orange County’s Community Health Clinics Begin Feeling Federal Cuts]
Nearly a dozen public commenters asked OC supervisors to support Medicaid, including Brandon Marchy, the newly named CEO of the OC Medical Association.
“Patients suffer. Benefits will be reduced. Enrollment numbers will drop, costs will rise, and patients will be funneled to the emergency room,” Marchy said at Tuesday’s meeting. “I personally look forward to working with you to keep OC residents healthy.”
Adam Overton, an organizer with Clergy & Laity United for Economic Justice in Orange County, said Medicaid helped save him from having to give up insurance at one point when he was working part time for three different universities.
“It was Medi-Cal and Medicare that saved my life, that made sure I didn’t go bankrupt, that made sure I could continue my career,” Overton said. “We believe our community has to stand for and take care of every single person.”
Supervisors voted 3-0-1 to call on Orange County’s six congressional representatives to oppose any Medi-Cal and Medicare cuts.
“It’s almost surreal to even have a resolution that’s discussing this. We shouldn’t be here,” said Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento. “These are for folks who are elders, are seniors, are children, people with disabilities and families who are struggling.”
Supervisor Katrina Foley also said that “silence is not an option,” and called for there to be zero cuts.
“Healthcare is one of our core values here,” Foley said. “No family should have to make the choice between going to the doctor, caring for their children, or buying food.”
Supervisor Janet Nguyen abstained from the vote, noting that while she supported Medicaid she was against “blindly” opposing any cuts.
“I’m 1000% supportive of fighting to make sure we get the funding we need for Medi-Cal,” Nguyen said.
Supervisor Don Wagner was absent from the meeting.
Foley and Sarmiento both called out Congresswoman Young Kim (R-Anaheim) and said she should be doing more to support Medicaid.
Kim has issued multiple statements on her website warning she will not support a federal budget that doesn’t fund Medicaid.
“I will continue to make clear that a budget that does not protect vital Medicaid services for the most vulnerable, provide tax relief for small businesses, and address the cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions will not receive my vote.”
Noah Biesiada is a Voice of OC reporter and corps member with Report for America, a GroundTruth initiative. Contact him at nbiesiada@voiceofoc.org.