No Cuts to Healthcare Coalition Outlines Devastating Cuts to Immigrant Healthcare Coming Oct 1 due to Trump’s HR 1
SEIU 775: We urge Gov and Legislature to “authorize emergency spending to stop this catastrophe before it happens”
SEATTLE, WA— Yesterday, the No Cuts to Healthcare coalition held a roundtable with Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal on the impending cuts to immigrant healthcare due to implementation of Trump and the Republican Congress’ HR 1.
Hosted by SEIU 775 at their offices in Seattle, Rep. Jayapal was joined by State Senator Manka Dhingra, Secretary of Washington Department of Social and Health Services Angela Ramirez, and impacted individuals and organizations including Washington State Hospital Association and Neighborhood House, immigrant caregivers and clients.
Photo Credit: Andrew Villeneuve
On October 1, 1,300 older people and people with disabilities in Washington will lose their long-term care services – and 15,000 Washington immigrants total are expected to lose their healthcare. This is part of the implementation of HR 1, Trump’s budget bill signed into law last year, called the “Big Bad Betrayal Bill” by Rep. Jayapal.
The No Cuts to Healthcare coalition is made up of a wide range of advocacy groups working to stop the cuts to immigrant healthcare, including: WA School-Based Health Alliance, Pro-Choice Washington, Northwest Health Law Advocates, OneAmerica, Washington State LTC Ombudsman Program, Economic Opportunity Institute, Firelands Workers United / Trabajadores Unidos, Chinese Information and Service Center, Asian Counseling and Referral Service, CISC, Project Access Northwest, Neighborhood House, WPSR, Washington State Budget and Policy Center, and SEIU 775.
Statements from roundtable panelists:
Rep. Pramila Jayapal: “Thank you to SEIU 775 and the impacted caregivers, community, and family members who spoke truth to power at yesterday’s event. When Trump and Republicans passed their Big Bad Betrayal, they stripped healthcare from millions of people in this country – and also specifically targeted immigrant communities. The No Cuts to Healthcare Coalition is bringing voices together from across our community to show just how devastating this will be in Seattle and nationwide. I am grateful to have state and local partners who are fighting to protect the most vulnerable in our communities – and in Congress, I will be standing strong to demand a reversal to these cuts that are devastating families. We have the money to take care of all people, as evidenced by the billions of dollars Republicans are greenlighting for Trump’s war of choice in Iran. It is time we actually invest at home to save lives.”
Sterling Harders, President of SEIU 775: “While Trump and Congressional Republicans are to blame for cutting Medicaid and attacking immigrants every way they can, Governor Ferguson and the legislature are working to protect vulnerable residents. They appropriated about twenty million dollars of state funds to cover the cost of people losing care, and they have worked closely with advocates and clients to get more people eligible for Medicaid. And of course they passed the Millionaires Tax to help fund these services in the future. Unfortunately, the federal government is implementing the cuts quicker and in a more draconian fashion than expected, and so the funds appropriated won’t go far enough to protect everyone from these cuts. While we appreciate what has been done thus far, we are asking the Governor and legislature to step up again and do everything possible to avoid the crisis of 1300 vulnerable seniors and people with disabilities losing care. We urge them to authorize emergency spending to stop this catastrophe before it happens and allow the legislature more time to find a long-term solution.”
State Senator Manka Dhingra: “Our intent as compassionate lawmakers was to pass a budget that prevented everyone at risk of losing their long-term care from this horrific situation. Not only is it the right thing to do, as practical lawmakers we know that protecting care is the fiscally responsible thing to do. I can’t speak for all legislators, but I do know that this was a priority of the Democrats in the legislature, the Members of Color Caucus and the Governor this session – we understand the real harm to people when coverage is cut.”
Liliana Chernova, caregiver: “My husband and I fled to Washington from Ukraine in 2022 so our family could survive. Now, our lives are still being threatened — not by bombs, but by the looming threat of lifesaving health care being ripped away from us simply because we are immigrants. We are forced to hope and pray that my mother-in-law and daughter are not left behind. We came to this country because we needed support. Washington became our home and welcomed us in. Now we’re asking state lawmakers to do the same. Our state can fill in the gap left by a federal government that is hostile to people like us.”
Zosia Stanley, Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Washington State Hospital Association: “When people lose health insurance, their health care needs do not disappear. Hospitals provide care regardless of a person’s ability to pay, but they cannot absorb unlimited costs from coverage losses and funding cuts. These shortfalls will force service reductions that affect access to care for all Washington patients.”
Viktoriia, Case Manager at Neighborhood House: “I see this every day in my work, and I live it every day at home: home and community-based care is not just compassionate; it is cost-effective. It keeps people out of hospitals and out of expensive institutions. It strengthens families, and it saves public resources. We are our client’s safety and without us, what will happen?”
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SEIU 775, the caregivers Union, represents more than 60,000 long-term care workers providing quality home care, nursing home care, and residential services in Washington, Montana, and Alaska. www.seiu775.org