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Rep. Stevens, Rep. Scholten with Megan Erskine, CEO and President of Catherine’s Health.

Reps. Scholten, Stevens Stand Up for Medicaid

By Mary Ellen Murphy Feb 20, 2025 | 6:00 AM

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Today, U.S. Representatives Hillary Scholten (MI03) and Haley Stevens (MI11) stood together at Catherine’s Health Center to condemn House Republicans’ proposed cuts to Medicaid funding. They warned that these drastic cuts would jeopardize health care access for millions of Michiganders and put immense strain on community health centers across the state.

Medicaid provides critical health coverage to over 2.3 million Michiganders—nearly a quarter of the state’s population–and that includes nearly 40% of all children, more than half of working-age adults with disabilities, and over a third of moms and their newborns. Under the proposed funding reductions, Michigan could be forced to cut coverage for postpartum mothers, individuals with disabilities, seniors in nursing homes, and children with special health care needs.

Both Congresswomen reaffirmed their commitment to protecting Medicaid and ensuring health care remains accessible for all Michiganders.

“These cuts aren’t just numbers on a page—they’re people and families,” said Rep. Scholten. “Medicaid is a promise to our children, our seniors, and our working families. And I will not stand by while that promise is broken. We are here today to send a clear message: we will fight for the health and dignity of every Michigander.”

“We are ringing the alarm bell because Republicans have proposed a budget which includes huge cuts to Medicaid and we are not going to stand by and let that happen,” said Rep. Stevens (MI11). “We must expand these services, not cut them. Seeing the work Catherine’s Health Center does here in West Michigan to ensure everyone in our community gets care, no matter their income, was profound. Thank you, Rep. Scholten and Catherine’s Health Center for hosting me today. I will always stand up for Medicaid and all the Michiganders who rely on it.”

The state’s community health centers, such as Catherine’s Health, rely on Medicaid for 40% of their funding. Without this funding, they would face dire financial shortfalls, leading to longer wait times, reduced services, and potential clinic closures. Hospitals and nursing homes would also suffer significant funding losses, impacting care for the entire state.

“Proposed cuts or work requirements for Medicaid are based on the false premise that Medicaid recipients do not work. The reality is that two-thirds of Medicaid recipients are already employed while another significant percentage are in school, living with disabilities or illness, or care-taking for those with disabilities or illness,” said Megan Erskine, CEO and President of Catherine’s Health. “Medicaid helps people stay healthy, so they can work, care for their families, and succeed in life. A healthy population is a working population.

 

Abby Koroma, mother of two visually impaired daughters who utilize Medicaid for their medical care, shared her story: “As a parent you don’t want to be talking to a doctor and crunching the numbers in your head when they’re proposing something that’s going to potentially make or break your child’s ability to see in the future. You don’t want to be questioning, well, can I cover this? Can I make the decision to deny a medical intervention because of the amount in my bank account? Just being able to pursue the medical treatment that both of our girls need in order to maintain healthy vision and have the brightest futures possible is something that my husband and I cannot express our gratitude enough about. So thank you so much.”

Scholten also highlighted her co-sponsorship of the HEALTH Act last Congress to safeguard telehealth services as well as her leadership in opposing the proposed cuts.

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