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2.26.25 – Urge Congress to Protect Access to Care through Medicaid
Dear Kasamas,
Three years ago, under California’s Medi-Cal expansion to grant Community Health Worker (CHW) certification and service reimbursement, LEAD Filipino began recruiting and training Filipino CHWs across Silicon Valley.
Our CHWs support resource navigation, teach health education workshops, and provide diabetes screenings and blood pressure checks. Recognizing that CHWs advance the social determinants of health, our organization has been laser-focused on supporting CHWs with obtaining certification through Medi-Cal. These efforts not only increase service provision, but also provide economic opportunities for Filipina/x/o frontline healthcare workers and paraprofessionals.
However, the future of Medicaid is in jeopardy as Congress prepares to review a budget plan to cut almost $880 billion dollars over 10 years in the Medicaid insurance program to finance the President’s agenda for tax cuts and border security. Congress could vote on a proposal as early as next week.
The cuts would devastate California’s Medi-Cal program and the 15 million Californians who depend on it. In 2022, Filipinas/xs/os and Asian American Pacific Islanders accounted for 9% of the Medi-Cal population with 45% of Californians enrolled in Medi-Cal. This year alone, 56% of children in California are expected to use Medi-Cal.
Help us and contact your representative. Urge them to vote NO on any Medicaid cuts.
Here’s how you can make your voice heard:
1. Click here to find your Congressional representative.
2. Write a letter to your representative to let lawmakers know that Medicaid cuts will have a profound and devastating impact on access to care. Here is a template to help. Feel free to personalize it and make it your own.
3. Take two minutes and place a call to your Member of Congress’ D.C. office. Want some pointers on what to say? Here’s a phone script.
I know we are all emotionally and physically exhausted by these egregious actions. When we are fatigued, we need to look to our left and right – and see each other in this fight. Working collectively to challenge, resist, and strike back against cuts to healthcare, social services and other entitlement programs matters.
Thank you for being part of the strong collective voice advocating for the protection of Medicaid. Your voice makes a difference, and, more importantly, it matters.
Dr. Angelica Cortez
Executive Director & Founder
LEAD Filipino
angelica@leadfilipino.org
