As Pennsylvania state lawmakers battle over the budget this week, one of the serious issues on the table is Medicaid expansion.
Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the federal government is offering to fund the expansion of the Medicaid program in order to cover more Americans.
Expanding the Medicaid program in Pennsylvania would mean billions of dollars in federal funds for the state, the over 40,000 new jobs and healthcare coverage for some 700,000 uninsured Pennsylvanians.
On Wednesday, June 12, hundreds of healthcare professionals, consumers and advocates rallied at the Capitol Building in Harrisburg and called on the Corbett Administration to make Medicaid expansion a reality in Pennsylvania. Among those speaking that day was Michelle Boyle, RN BSN.
Michelle, a nurse at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh and member of the Nurse Alliance of SEIU PA, shared her beliefs about her profession and its roots in patriotism and told of her patients whose lives were in jeopardy for lack of healthcare coverage. Michelle even shard the story of her own daughters paternal grandmother, who lost her job and her health insurance and eventually lost her life to cancer – something that could have been treated if she had been covered under Medicaid.
“If the expanded Medicaid had been offered at that time she would have lived to see her grandchildren,” Michelle told the crowd of supporters. “Right now, this is the only way my daughter knows her – by holding her picture instead of her hand.”
Michelle continues to fight and advocate for Medicaid expansion even as the deadline looms (lawmakers must vote on a budget by June 30.)
Join Michelle and other healthcare professionals and add your voice to the chorus of people calling for Medicaid expansion. You can do so by calling 1-800-515-8134. You’ll get a brief overview of the benefits of Medicaid expansion. Then provide your zip code and you’ll be connected with your local state senator or state representative.