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Guest column: No question — Medicaid is critical

Post Register - 7/14/2017

There is no question, Medicaid is critical to people with disabilities in Idaho, writes Lana Gonzales.

When my daughter was diagnosed with autism at a very young age I was told that the outlook was grim. There is no cure, no treatment, no known cause and she would more than likely "not amount to much." They told me she would require a great deal of therapy just to do everyday things, and the sooner she received it the better. The services our family received through Medicaid provided us with a critical lifeline and, most importantly, gave us hope. It's our personal experience that informs my deep fears about the dangerous cuts proposed in the U.S. Senate's healthcare bill.

It is difficult to explain the transition of priorities when you are told your child will have a lifelong, debilitating disability. "Overwhelming" and "excruciating" only brush the surface. I was scared and alone. When the Infant Toddler program came to my home and offered me hope and understanding, I shed tears of joy because finally I had some help.

Over the years we have been blessed with the most amazing people working with her: therapists, teachers, social workers and interventionists all pitching in to support Macie. Each person contributing in some way to Macie's progress - they are my family's heroes. They taught me, guided me and inspired me. I discovered that Macie was capable of so much; that the outlook wasn't grim. These heroes did not do it for the meager money, but because they believe in a strong family unit and in helping us all achieve as much independence as possible.

These heroes were made possible by Medicaid. The new changes proposed to cap and cut Medicaid would dramatically affect me, my daughter, my family and our community. Quite frankly, they terrify me.

Gandhi said, "The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members."

People with disabilities add a depth, richness and diversity to our communities, their experiences and opinions are an asset, just like everyone else's. What does it say about our society when we turn our backs on the people that need us the most? These changes will shift the financial responsibility of supporting people with disabilities to our state, and in Idaho we simply do not have the funds to spare.

When facing a dilemma in my life I try to step back and consider where the parties involved are coming from. Perhaps lawmakers were so focused on cutting taxes for the wealthiest Americans that they simply overlooked the effects this would have. Perhaps they overlooked how Medicaid provides skill-building opportunities to people with disabilities. Maybe they aren't aware of the implications it would have on our economy. It is possible that they are not aware that even schools face additional challenges when Medicaid is cut? Do they not know how many families rely on Medicaid for survival? There is no question, Medicaid is critical to people with disabilities in Idaho.

Please join me in calling on our senators to reject this bill.

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