Wisconsin lawmakers, cancer survivors advocate for affordable cancer care

STODDARD, Wis. (WEAU) – State representatives are becoming a member of with Coulee Area group members in calling for an growth of Medicaid to make most cancers care extra inexpensive.

The American Most cancers Society’s Most cancers Motion Community hosted an occasion in Stoddard Wednesday afternoon to advocate for broadening well being care protection for low-income Wisconsinites.

One of many featured audio system on the occasion was Galesville native Mariah Forster Olson, who was recognized with most cancers on the age of 1.

Olson has crushed her sickness, however says she wants to go to a health care provider at the least as soon as every week as a result of late impact signs and different medical situations.

Whereas Olson has protection for her check-ups, she needs to make sure that others who aren’t as lucky have the identical alternatives to obtain high quality well being care.

“It is rather costly for me to go to the physician, and having Medicare and Medicaid has actually made it inexpensive for me to have the ability to get all the assessments and appointments that I would like,” Olson stated. “That must be the case for everybody, well being care must be a proper, not a privilege, on this nation and on this state.”

Advocates equivalent to Linda DeGarmo with the Most cancers Motion Community will not be solely asking Congress to increase Medicaid throughout the nation, however are imploring state officers to assist Wisconsin residents which are in want.

“Since passage of the Reasonably priced Care Act, 38 states have expanded Medicaid, which implies in 38 states, people with restricted incomes can now entry inexpensive and high quality well being care,” DeGarmo detailed. “12 states, together with Wisconsin, haven’t absolutely expanded their Medicaid applications, and it’s time for us to try this.”

The Most cancers Motion Community has the help of Rep. Ron Variety, who is asking on the state legislature to make well being care extra accessible.

“Republicans within the State Legislature have refused to increase Medicaid, and for the reason that time of the Reasonably priced Care Act, that has meant that we’ve got forgone $2.8 billion in funding that the federal authorities would have despatched to Wisconsin to shut the protection hole,” Variety stated.

The American Most cancers Society says increasing BadgerCare would permit 91,000 low-income Wisconsin people and households to realize entry to complete and inexpensive well being care protection.

Olson hopes her first-hand expertise with most cancers, together with the testimony of different survivors, will push lawmakers to take motion.

“Utilizing your private story to assist illustrate the necessity for inexpensive well being care, that’s a strong factor,” Olson expressed. “That’s, I believe, what legislators keep in mind versus the specifics of a invoice, they keep in mind the private tales.”

Extra data on the specifics of what the Most cancers Motion Community is asking for could be discovered right here.

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