Following the passage of President Trump's tax cut plan in the House of Representatives, Medicaid cuts now appear likely. On April 11, California's 47th District Representative Dave Min, along with local healthcare professionals, voiced opposition to these Medicaid cuts.

Representative Dave Min held a press conference in Irvine on April 11 with local residents and medical professionals, warning that Medicaid cuts would jeopardize residents' health.

Rep. Min expressed concern that "136,000 residents in my 47th district depend on Medicaid, and more than half of children's hospital patients are Medicaid beneficiaries. If the budget is cut, countless children will be unable to receive even basic medical care."

The Trump tax cut plan passed on April 11 by the Republican-led House of Representatives is expected to lead to significant Medicaid spending cuts. Rep. Min explained that "this budget aims to cut Medicaid by approximately $880 billion, with particularly high potential impact on low-income families, immigrant families, and children." The final amount will be determined through negotiations with the Senate.

Rep. Min criticized the Republican-led massive tax cut plan as essentially providing tax breaks for the wealthy at the expense of public health.

Dr. Kate Williamson, a pediatrician at Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) who spoke at the press conference, stated, "Five million children in California receive medical care through the state's Medicaid program, Medi-Cal. If hospital operations become difficult, specialized pediatric medical services themselves may disappear."

Dr. Williamson added that Medi-Cal provides children with essential medical, dental, vision, and mental health services. She also noted that 40% of births in California are covered by Medi-Cal.

Joy Ann Fumera, a Kaiser Permanente Orange County nurse, warned that "patients are very afraid right now. Medicaid cuts will lead to overall increases in healthcare costs and result in hospitals and local health centers closing their doors."

Mercedes Mata, mother of a 6-year-old child battling a brain tumor, also took the microphone at the event. "Medical expenses through private insurers are unmanageable," she said, adding, "Without Medi-Cal, my child's survival would have been difficult." Mata explained, "Three emergency room visits, surgery, two weeks in intensive care, tumor treatment, and a three-day hospital stay were estimated to cost $500,000 without insurance. No matter how many college degrees and good jobs parents have, these costs are impossible to bear."

Healthcare professionals strongly opposed this budget plan, emphasizing that it's not simply a matter of "fiscal efficiency" but a policy that threatens actual lives. More than 30 million children nationwide receive Medicaid benefits, and more than one-third of children diagnosed with cancer rely on Medicaid benefits.

Rep. Min said he would continue advocating for his constituents, including the Korean American community, which he described as especially vulnerable to healthcare cuts.

Chase Karng | chasekarng@radioseoul1650.com