DEER CREEK, Ill. – As disability groups warn of potential cuts to Medicaid, a Deer Creek woman traveled to the nation’s capital in response. She’s advocating for people with disabilities who rely on that program.
Anastazia Graf was raised by her grandmother, who used a wheelchair. Her godson has a rare form of epilepsy. Now, Graf is a support worker for people with disabilities.
She and other advocates are concerned that Medicaid cuts are on the horizon, which inspired her to attend a disability policy seminar in Washington, D.C.
Graf told 25 News, “My grandma used to tell me that until you’ve lived the life, you don’t know the life. Until you’re in a position where you have no other option than to rely on these programs, you can’t speak on whether or not someone needs them or is using them correctly.”
A House resolution proposes cutting $2 trillion from the federal budget. Capitol News Illinois reports that service providers are worried that this can’t be down without touching Medicaid, an opinion shared by Graf.
Friday, 25 News asked U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap) about these possible cuts. He called Medicaid an “essential social service,” but he says there is room to cut it by getting able-bodied people who use the program to find employment.
“Like any federal government program, we ought to be looking to get rid of waste, fraud, and abuse, and we have that in government. Secondarily, we ought to be looking to make federal programs more efficient, more effective, more accountable,” LaHood said.
Graf spent her days in D.C. with roughly 900 other advocates, attending seminars, meeting with congressional staffers, and attending a rally.
She spoke with staffers for both LaHood and Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Chicago).
“It was nice to be able to connect with our Congress people, know that they’re hearing us, and move forward from there,” Graf said.
Graf said that she has seen Medicaid at work paying for long-term care for people with disabilities. She doesn’t want to see that funding disappear.
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