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Jennifer Bires: Medicaid is More Than Just Coverage – It’s a Lifeline

Jennifer Bires/LinkedIn

May 8, 2025, 06:56

Jennifer Bires: Medicaid is More Than Just Coverage – It’s a Lifeline

Jennifer Bires, Executive Director of Life with Cancer and Patient Experience for the Inova Schar Cancer Institute, shared a post on LinkedIn by ACS CAN, adding:

“When I was a baby social worker, there was no financial navigation or counseling. I would sit with patients and say, Yes, I know your cancer is curable. Yes, I know the treatments exist. But I’m sorry, there is no program that will make it so you can afford it.

Can you imagine? Looking someone in the eye, sitting with their family, and telling them they’re going to die—not because the science isn’t there, but because in this country, health care is not a human right.

I can’t say those conversations never happen anymore but they are far fewer since Medicaid expansion and the affordable care act.

That’s why Medicaid cuts terrify me. Medicaid is more than just coverage; it’s a lifeline.

Cuts to Medicaid don’t just impact individuals—they impact entire communities. Health systems will struggle, emergency rooms will overflow with preventable crises, and more families will face impossible choices.

We can’t let this happen. There’s still time to make your voice heard. Reach out to congress. Tell them to vote no on any cuts to Medicaid. Because no one should have to hear we can cure you, but you can’t afford to live.”

Quoting ACS CAN’s post below:

“We’re frustrated. You’re frustrated.

Despite so many cancer patients and cancer advocates speaking out, Medicaid, a program that provides lifesaving health care coverage to nearly 80 million people, is still under attack. Congress is still considering devastating cuts to this critical program.

Cancer patients and their families count on this program for their crucial health care, including 1 in 3 children diagnosed with cancer and 1 in 10 adults with a history of cancer. We can’t let this happen.

There’s still time to make your voice heard. Send a message to your lawmaker asking them to commit to voting no on any cuts to Medicaid in any form!”

Read further.

You Can Find More Posts Featuring Jennifer Bires on OncoDaily.