While Americans are struggling to keep jobs, important decisions are being debated in Washington about deficit reduction in the supercommittee process. As these discussions get underway, reckless and devastating cuts to Medicaid and Medicare are being considered in lieu of ever making rich corporations and their special interests donors pay their fair share.
Medicaid covers the cost of roughly 70% of seniors who live in nursing homes or receive in-home care. Shareen Miller, a personal care assistant (PCA) in Churchton, MD shares how cuts to Medicaid would impact her profession and the lives of the seniors and people with disabilities who rely on the assistance of dedicated PCAs like herself.
"I have been in homecare more than six years now. I do it because it rewards my heart. Homecare is a labor of love for me. I have worked in an office setting and worked in other jobs, but I have never had a job as rewarding as this. My consumer depended upon me. I was her hands, her feet, her voice.
"The truth is, our fellow citizens depend upon us too. Through Medicaid, we provide high quality care for seniors and people with disabilities and at the same time, save the state money.
"When I was working in Virginia, we saved $44,000 per adult per year and almost $144,000 for children's care as compared to nursing home or institutional care. Every year, we saved Virginia taxpayers nearly $500 million in long term care costs."
"It just makes sense for our country to invest in homecare. Consumers rely on it to live independently at home and it helps lower the overall healthcare costs in our state budget.I am telling you first hand: no one can truly afford to see Medicaid cut."
We all need to stand up and defend important programs that help many Americans live a dignified life. This means we cannot let members of the deficit committee agree to a plan that puts Medicare, Medicaid and jobs on the chopping block.
