Leaders Unite to Fight for Medicaid

During the roundtable, the speakers unanimously agreed cuts to Medicaid, known as Medi-Cal in California, would severely affect Lake County’s local healthcare system, which serves seniors, families and children in need. They emphasized losing coverage would lead to job losses for healthcare workers and worsen healthcare deserts in rural areas. Medicaid funding directly helps keep Lake County hospitals and healthcare services available for those in need, and Lake County leaders, including Social Services Director, Rachael Dillman Parsons, and Health Services Director, Anthony Arton, echoed the devastating ripple effects these cuts would have on our community.

Nearly 50% of Lake County residents (and approximately 80% of children) rely on Medi-Cal and risk losing coverage.  In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), which helps people avoid long-term care, also hinges on Medi-Cal funding.  Cuts could additionally affect other Safety Net programs.  About 25% of residents receive SNAP (CalFresh) benefits, for example. These cuts would have far-reaching consequences, harming our most vulnerable residents and straining the entire healthcare system.

After the roundtable, Congressman Thompson began the press conference, highlighting the devastating impact that Medicaid cuts would have on Lake County, particularly in rural areas. He emphasized that these cuts would affect everyone, not just Medicaid recipients, stating:

“It doesn’t matter if you are a recipient of Medicaid, if you have private insurance that pays for your healthcare, or if you are able to pay out-of-pocket, everyone will be impacted. Services will be reduced, certain hospitals and certain facilities will cease to exist and others will be pared back for their services to make way for those cuts. This means that everyone will be punished, leaving many without the healthcare they need.”

Echoing Congressman Thompson’s concern, Lake County Tribal Health CEO Ernesto Padilla shared that he knows, “…firsthand the importance of rural healthcare. This is not just a national issue. This is a Lake County issue.”

Emphasizing the urgency, Director Elise Jones thanked Congressman Thompson for bringing stakeholders together to address this critical issue. She remarked, “What we are facing is nothing short of a crisis. I see firsthand how Medi-Cal funds critical mental health and substance use treatment that keeps our residents housed, employed and alive.”  Risks of reduced funding include:

• Longer wait times for mental health and addiction treatment, or no care at all.

• An increase in crisis events, including overdoses, hospitalizations and suicides.

• More strain on law enforcement and emergency rooms, which will be forced to manage untreated mental illness without the right resources.

Jones stressed, “Medi-Cal is the backbone of our behavioral health system—it funds therapy for trauma survivors, addiction treatment and crisis response for people experiencing mental health emergencies. Last year alone, Lake County received over $270 million in federal Medicaid [and Children’s Health Insurance Program, CHIP] funding. If these cuts move forward, our County will be left with impossible choices—either reduce services or leave thousands of people without care.”

She continued to stress the forthcoming impacts of the Budget Reconciliation Act: “These cuts would not save money—they would shift costs to hospitals, jails and law enforcement, ultimately costing taxpayers even more…  We cannot afford this, and it is the wrong course. I am grateful to Congressman Thompson for standing firm, and I urge all of our federal representatives to fight these cuts with everything they have; for many who rely on Medi-Cal-funded care. This is truly a matter of life and death.”

Board Chair and District 3 Supervisor Crandell underscored Lake County’s resilience in the face of challenges, but stressed the need to protect Medicaid from budget cuts: “We have faced crises before, but we’ve always pulled together. If these cuts happen, Adventist Health and Sutter Lakeside will be overwhelmed. Our seniors, who depend on these facilities, will suffer. IHSS will also be affected, forcing seniors to wait longer for essential care.” He urged the community to contact their elected officials and voice their opposition to Medicaid and other Safety Net program cuts.

Echoing concerns about Medicaid cuts, Lake Family Resource Center Executive Director, Lisa Morrow, emphasized the real-life impact on vulnerable residents.

“We see the faces behind the numbers every day—single mothers, elderly couples on fixed incomes, people seeking substance abuse treatment, sexual assault survivors and human trafficking victims. They already struggle to afford care, and Medicaid is their lifeline. Without it, chronic conditions and mental health issues will go untreated, and medical bills will pile up. This isn’t just about finances. It’s about saving lives and ensuring people have the chance to live healthy, fulfilling lives.”

Congressman Thompson ended the press conference by emphasizing the real human impact of Medicaid cuts:

“Los otros oradores lo han dejado claro—detrás de estas cifras hay vidas reales. Estos recortes perjudicarán a las personas del Condado de Lake y de todo el país. Dañarán nuestra economía, con cada dólar perdido repercutiendo en nuestras comunidades. Gracias, supervisor Crandell, por destacar la fortaleza y la resiliencia del Condado de Lake. Hemos superado los desastres naturales, pero ahora debemos superar este desastre provocado por el hombre y motivado por la avaricia”.

Haga clic aquí para ver la conferencia de prensa.