“Among those who stand to be impacted by cuts to Medicaid funding is Essie Frank (pictured in the center in the pink sweatshirt), a Fairbanks resident who has worked as a caregiver for more than 30 years.
Frank, her daughter and her mother all rely on Medicaid for health care. Her mother is a breast cancer survivor who is suffering from kidney failure. Her daughter, an 18-year-old, has a rare stomach disease.
“If these cuts go through, that means death for my daughter and death for my mother,” said Frank.
Frank said her caregiving clients rely on her for daily routines. The agency that employs Frank is reimbursed through Medicaid — which means cuts to the program could translate to cuts to the services her clients rely on, and income loss for Frank, she said.
“Not only would people lose jobs — people would lose lives,” she said.
Frank traveled earlier this month to Washington, D.C., to speak with Alaska’s congressional delegation about the importance of Medicaid. There, she said she was well received by Begich.
“He assured that he 100% backed us on fighting to not have any cuts to Medicaid,” said Frank. Now, she said she feels betrayed by his vote.”