Physicians call for health care for all West Virginians

We are members of the WV chapter of Physicians for a National Health Program. We treat West Virginians of all income levels: low, middle, and upper income. Low and middle income people are struggling to find a stable and financially secure home life. These are people in our communities, people with whom we work, worship, and play. Our children and theirs attend school together.

Physicians for a National Health Program advocates that high quality health care be available to all people in the United States, without regard to socio-economic status, race, or gender.

Dr. Kenneth Wright, chair, PNHP-WV, Charleston Dr. John Aldis, treasurer, PNHP-WV, Shepherdstown Dr. Agnes Franz, secretary, PNHP-WV, Fairmont Dr. Mike Schroering, past-chair, PNHP-WV, Fairmont, Dr. Dan Doyle, Oak Hill, Dr. Joseph Golden, Beckley.

Editor’s note: “Other Voices” does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Register-Herald.

We believe this should be a public right, as it is in Canada and European countries.

Right now, we are concentrating on the attempt by the Republican majority in Congress and the President to decrease funding for Medicaid and SNAP (food assistance), as they are currently administered. This attempt is through HR1, what the President calls the “One Big, Beautiful Bill.”

If this measure passes and is implemented, it will have devastating effects here in West Virginia, one of the poorest states in the country. In W.Va. 75,000 of those receiving Medicaid, and 65,000 getting SNAP (Food Stamps), will lose this support. One in three West Virginians rely on Medicaid for their health care. Many elderly in nursing homes rely on Medicaid funding for their care. And those nursing homes rely on that income to remain open. And the nursing employees rely on those jobs to feed their own families.

The drafters of HR1 have no idea what it feels like to be poor, what it feels like to be hungry, what it feels like to choose between food or medicines, what it feels like to have a loved one rejected by a nursing home because Medicaid no longer covers this treatment.

These massive cuts to Medicaid and SNAP are being done to offset tax breaks that mostly benefit well to do families. If a family earns $556,000 or more, they get approximately $50,000 extra income for which they have no survival need. People at this level can afford health insurance, and no problem providing food for their meals. In contrast families earning $55,000 or less in West Virginia will get little or no extra income from the “tax breaks” in HR1.

Many hospitals in West Virginia, especially in rural areas, rely on Medicaid funding to pay their operating expenses, including paying their employees. Seven more rural hospitals in West Virginia risk closure if this proposed shrinkage in Medicaid funding occurs. Not only will low-income people not be able to get health care, but many current employees of hospitals and other health care organizations would be laid off.

As members of PNHPWV, we ask all citizens to think about how loss of Medicaid or SNAP food assistance will affect their families.

Contact our two U.S. Senators Capito and Justice, and two Representatives Miller and Moore in Washington. Tell them the concerns about the consequences for themselves and their families. We look for the day of improved Medicare for All when everyone will be covered with no exclusion from needed primary care, specialist care, hospital care, or medications.

But now we must fight against going backwards. Against adding more than 11 million nationwide to the 28 million already uninsured. Against 7,000 preventable deaths per year due to lack of medical care. Against severe economic harm to our fellow citizens and our state.