Senator Mark Kelly spoke on the Senate floor about the potential impact of Medicaid cuts, sharing testimonies from Arizonans who rely on the program. At town halls across the state, he heard from families who depend on Arizona’s Medicaid program, AHCCCS, which covers over two million people, including those enrolled through Medicaid expansion and Proposition 204. According to the Office of the Senator, reducing Medicaid funding could result in loss of coverage and possible closures of community health centers and hospitals, affecting access to medical services in the state.
During a town hall in Scottsdale, Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego heard from Quianna Brown, a mother of a special needs child with a rare form of diabetes, who spoke against proposed Medicaid cuts, stating, “‘Would you mind telling your colleagues in Washington that when they’re burning down this house, there’s people still inside? My kid is inside.’” Kelly later repeated her statement on the Senate floor while discussing the impact of Medicaid policy. He also shared the story of Samia from Sierra Vista, a mother of two autistic children with a rare tumor disorder, who described Medicaid’s role in early cancer detection and Arizona’s paid caregiver program, which allows her to care for her children at home, as reported by the Office of the Senator.
In Marana, Tiffany Leslie Pasillas told Kelly that Medicaid allows her to care for her daughter, Aiyana, at home and that losing coverage could require placement in a specialized facility. Chad Durns from Tucson raised concerns about affording multiple sclerosis treatment without Medicaid, while Crissy McGann noted the potential impact of cuts on her daughter Amalia’s care for a rare genetic condition. Kelly urged lawmakers to consider the real-life impact of policy decisions, stating, "Your constituents are inside," as mentioned by the Office of the Senator.
