Facing $800 billion in Medicaid cuts, Kern County calls on Rep. Valadao

On a warm spring afternoon in Bakersfield, California, community leaders, patients and advocates gathered at the Bakersfield American Indian Health Project to voice concerns about a looming threat: the proposed $880 billion in cuts to the federal Medicaid budget.

The Wednesday, April 30 meeting brought the community together to speak out about what these cuts could mean for Kern County.

We don’t have a backup plan,” said Tara Gray, managed care plan tribal liaison at the Bakersfield American Indian Health Project.

She explained that if the cuts proposed under the Republican-led House budget resolution pass, “there will be no Native-specific providers in Kern County … It’s not just a number on a spreadsheet, but it is a direct attack on the health and the survival of our people.”

Gray’s voice joined a growing chorus urging U.S. Representative David Valadao — a Republican who serves California’s 22nd congressional district, including Kern County — to oppose the proposed legislation.

District 22 has the highest Medicaid enrollment of any congressional district in the country, with over 65% of residents relying on Medi-Cal, the state’s version of the program, for their health care needs.

Tara Gray highlighted how her clinic, which is working to become a federally qualified health center, currently provides services such as suicide prevention, diabetes management, medication support, and crisis intervention.

“Over 70% of our clients are Medi-Cal recipients,” she explained. “American Indian and Alaska Natives face some of the worst health disparities in the country, and this is not by chance; this is because of the federal policies that have been enacted, and cutting Medicaid to our service would only increase our chances of having more healthcare disparities.”

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 data, 13.4% of Kern County residents live with a disability. For many of them, Medi-Cal provides essential support in maintaining their independence.

“I am disgusted by politicians who turn their backs on people who need this,” said Ulises Hernandez, a Bakersfield resident who lives with Thrombocytopenia Absent Radius (TAR) syndrome, a rare condition that affects mobility and has required him to use a wheelchair since the age of 10.

Hernandez depends on Medi-Cal for vital services including wheelchair repairs, access to medications and treatment for back wounds.

If the cuts go into effect, Hernandez said, they could disrupt his access to medications that help him manage daily life, resulting in more frequent hospitalizations.

Without the financial assistance provided by Medi-Cal, the situation could push his family into financial turmoil.

“It would devastate my mom and my brother. It’s bad enough we live paycheck to paycheck,” said Hernandez. “Without that medical insurance, my mom and my brother would be in debt … probably for the rest of our lives.”

“People without health coverage delay care in fear of the cost, get sicker, and eventually require more expensive treatment. Medical bills that can’t be paid drive people further into poverty,” said Joy Dockter, Senior Attorney at the Western Center on Law and Poverty.

“By terminating health care through Medi-Cal for people who can’t get coverage anywhere else, Congress is condemning them to less healthy and less economically viable lives,” he added.

That reality is deeply personal for Devon Newton, a military veteran and father. His two-year-old son, Kairo, was born with Spina Bifida and relies on essential services such as physical therapy; periodical brace replacements as he grows; and surgeries that significantly improve his quality of life.

If these services are no longer covered, the financial burden will fall entirely on Newton’s family, placing them under severe economic strain.

“We’re told we’re a burden, meanwhile, the ultra-wealthy, those who need the least help, are showered with tax cuts, loopholes, subsidies,” he said. “Let me be clear: This fight is not about charity. It’s about justice. It is about the soul of our nation. We’re not asking for scraps … It’s not enough for David Valadao to abstain. He needs to vote against this bill.”

There’s still time to stop the proposed Medicaid cuts — but the clock is ticking.

“It would only take David Valadao and three other of the 220 Republican members of the House to vote ‘no’ on this plan to save the almost 80 million people enrolled in Medicaid programs, including nearly 15 million Californians,” said Dockter.

The cuts are not a done deal, but if enacted, the consequences would be catastrophic for California’s most vulnerable.

While the House Energy and Commerce Committee was set to meet on May 7th to reveal what specific Medicaid reductions are on the table the meeting has been delayed to the week of May 12.

After that, Congress will enter a critical negotiation period in June and July to reconcile competing proposals, aiming for a final vote before the August recess.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has said he wants a budget package passed by the end of the month.

Hernandez has a clear message: “To the communities here in Kern County, in the state of California, and in the US, call your representatives. Let them know how you feel, share your stories with them.”

“They need to hear from you because only you have the power to change your life, to change your future,” he added. “Employ your resident representatives to do what’s right. Vote against these cuts.”

Individuals wishing to voice their concerns about the proposed cuts and contact Rep. David Valadao’s office can use this form.