The following is an Op-Ed from Golden Valley Health Centers, CEO, David Quackenbush.
As the CEO of Golden Valley Health Centers, I am deeply concerned about the proposed cuts to Medicaid, known as Medi-Cal in California. We serve 165,000 low-income Medi-Cal patients annually and these reductions threaten the health of millions of families throughout the state.
California’s Medi-Cal program covers 15 million people in the state, including veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, pregnant women, and working families, including half of all the state’s children. Thanks to Medi-Cal, patients have access to comprehensive, whole-person care at community health centers like Golden Valley Health Centers. We provide primary care, mental health and behavioral health services, dental care, optometry, and other specialty services.
When patients have access to healthcare, especially preventative care, communities are healthier. Preventative medicine allows people to stop relying on emergency rooms for care. Routine prenatal care means fewer pregnancy complications and early detection means more affordable chronic disease management.
If Congress cuts Medicaid, millions of Californians could lose access to critical care. Without access to care, patients would have no choice but to forgo preventative care, leading to more emergency room visits and increased costs for both patients and taxpayers.
Access to health care shouldn’t be political, which is why I urge our Congressional representatives to stand up and fight for California’s patients.
For additional information, contact:
Amy Collier Carroll
Golden Valley Health Centers
(209) 385-5452
acarroll@gvhc.org
English 
Spanish 
