[0:00] Thank you so much to everyone for being [0:02] here this morning. And I just want to [0:04] start by acknowledging we don't have a [0:06] lot of details, but uh there seems to be [0:07] a a situation uh in Minneapolis this [0:10] morning and um an active shooter [0:13] situation. And so we want to just send [0:15] our uh our prayers up uh for anyone who [0:19] is uh involved and of course our prayers [0:21] for law enforcement who may be headed to [0:23] the scene or at the scene here this [0:24] morning. Um thank you to everyone um in [0:28] healthcare who may be asked to respond [0:30] as well. So thank you so much. Um look [0:34] there are few issues more important to [0:36] me than ensuring that all motans have [0:40] access to affordable healthcare. [0:44] I know the folks standing alongside me [0:46] and behind me can say the same. And [0:48] that's why we're here today, to stand up [0:50] against the so-called big, beautiful [0:54] bill that made the deepest cuts to [0:56] healthcare in American history. This is [0:59] incredibly personal to me. U many of you [1:02] know I've told my story um of growing up [1:04] in a mobile home park uh to a single mom [1:08] who at times in the history of our own [1:10] family, we didn't have access to health [1:13] insurance. So this is a deeply personal [1:16] topic for me. Uh I worked for 22 years [1:19] in two healthcare manufacturing [1:20] companies uh before I ever stepped off [1:24] the sidelines to run for Congress. And [1:26] so coming to Congress, one of the [1:29] objectives that I had was to represent [1:31] my constituents and to try and get [1:33] access to health care for as many people [1:36] as possible. I'm not going to sugarcoat [1:38] it. Because of these cuts, too many [1:40] motans will lose access to the health [1:43] care that they desperately need and even [1:45] more are going to see their health care [1:47] costs go up. The latest estimates put [1:50] 140,000 motans in jeopardy of losing [1:54] their healthcare coverage. Let that sink [1:56] in. [1:57] 140,000 [1:59] of our neighbors. And right now, when [2:03] you think about it, it's not that folks [2:05] aren't going to come to the hospital [2:07] when they need one. [2:09] These healthc care facilities have a [2:11] responsibility to serve our community [2:14] when they're sick. It's just going to be [2:17] uncompensated care that actually happens [2:20] when we could be delivering preventive [2:22] care that actually lowers the cost of [2:25] health care in our country. I've always [2:27] said that it's too expensive to be sick [2:30] in this country and that has never been [2:33] more true. Having served on the [2:35] leadership team of a major Minnesota [2:37] healthcare company for years, I know [2:39] that preventive care not only save saves [2:43] lives, but it saves money. Somehow that [2:45] is lost on my Republican colleagues who [2:48] voted to pass a bill that will take [2:50] health care away from millions of [2:52] Americans and skyrocket the national [2:54] debt. All to pay for tax cuts. The [2:57] majority of the tax cuts in this bill [2:59] went to the top 2% in our country. [3:03] Literally, think about what they just [3:06] did that I voted against, by the way. [3:10] They took the lowest 10% in our country, [3:14] income earners, and they cut Medicaid [3:17] and they cut supplemental nutrition. [3:19] Food. Nutrition is healthcare in our [3:22] country. And they delivered that benefit [3:25] and value to the top 10% in our country. [3:28] It doesn't make any sense. We should [3:30] focus on cutting taxes for the middle [3:33] class in this country. But that's not at [3:35] all what my colleagues have done. Prior [3:37] to their passage of the big ugly bill, I [3:39] will not call it beautiful anymore. [3:41] Working motans relied on the affordable [3:44] care act premium tax credits to help pay [3:46] for their coverage. Those tax credits [3:48] are set to expire this November. And [3:51] when that happens, health insurance [3:53] premiums will increase for everyone in [3:56] the marketplace. Let me be clear. When [3:58] folks get their premium increases, I [4:01] don't care if you're on Menure or if [4:04] you're on a private health care plan, I [4:06] am telling you now that your health care [4:08] costs are going to go up. You're going [4:12] to be asked to pay more because the [4:13] market is already starting to prepare [4:17] for what's about to happen in a trillion [4:19] dollars in Medicaid cuts in our country. [4:22] Over 143,000 motans rely on menure for [4:26] coverage and 90,000 rely on the premium [4:29] tax credit. 90,000 62% of motans [4:33] enrolled through menure will see their [4:35] costs go up in 2026 with premiums [4:38] increasing by 177 per month on average [4:42] for everyday motans. Those bills add up [4:44] and I want to give you an example. This [4:46] is really insane when you think about [4:49] it. Prior to the ACA tax credits, which [4:52] I was proud to vote for, and I'm on a [4:55] bill to extend those tax credits, I know [4:58] a farmer in this district who paid on [5:02] menure $28,000 [5:04] a year in premiums for just him and his [5:08] wife. He and his wife. Now, they pay [5:12] around $5,000 a year in premiums. That's [5:16] an extreme example, but we're talking [5:18] about people who grow our food and our [5:21] fuel in this country who are being asked [5:24] to pay that kind of money for healthcare [5:27] in our nation. You may have heard the [5:30] talking point from my Republican [5:31] colleagues, those same Republican [5:33] colleagues who won't show up to do town [5:36] halls in their own congressional [5:37] districts, [5:39] that the current eligibility [5:40] requirements for Medicaid aren't [5:42] stringent enough to prevent freeloading [5:44] and fraud. But let me set the record [5:46] straight. Their bill is designed to [5:49] increase burdensome requirements so that [5:52] thousands and millions of people are [5:56] kicked off their health care. [5:58] Ironically, access to health care is the [6:00] only way that many motans with [6:02] disabilities, chronic illnesses, or [6:04] mental health challenges are even able [6:07] to work. But Republicans won't talk [6:09] about that part. Let me say it again [6:12] because we can't stress the point [6:13] enough. This is all happening to fund [6:16] tax breaks for the top 10% in our [6:19] country. And if you're in the top 10%, [6:21] that's amazing. Awesome. Great for you. [6:25] Pay your damn taxes. [6:27] That's awesome. I'm pro- everyone having [6:30] an opportunity to be successful in this [6:32] country. Working and middle class motans [6:34] though will die because President Trump [6:38] and my colleagues in Congress, including [6:41] the four representatives from my own [6:43] state, are more concerned with lining [6:45] the pockets of billionaires than they [6:47] are with taking care of the people that [6:49] they represent. [6:51] I have often been named as one of the [6:53] most bipartisan members of Congress, but [6:56] I've often also been called a bit of a [6:57] hellraiser because I will say things and [7:00] do things that aren't exactly [7:02] politically correct, even within my own [7:04] party. But I'm going to always tell you [7:06] the truth. And the truth is that this [7:09] bill will raise the national debt by [7:12] nearly $4 trillion over 10 years to pay [7:16] for tax breaks for billionaires. so much [7:19] for the party of fiscal responsibility. [7:21] But I will tell you that I will not be [7:24] quiet. I will not stand aside. I am [7:26] going to be front and center in telling [7:29] motans that your health care costs are [7:31] going up because my Republican [7:33] colleagues don't know a damn thing about [7:35] healthcare in our country. The most [7:39] correct thing that President Trump ever [7:42] said was that healthcare is complicated. [7:45] And if you remember, this is the same [7:48] president and Republican party who tried [7:50] to repeal the Affordable Care Act over [7:53] 60 times before I got to Congress. That [7:56] is one of the reasons I ran for Congress [7:58] is because I will not stand as someone [8:01] who didn't have health insurance in my [8:04] own family at times for what they're [8:07] doing to our nation. I'm not going to [8:10] step aside. I believe that healthcare is [8:11] a right, not a privilege. And that's why [8:13] I will do everything in my power to make [8:15] sure that motans are able to access and [8:17] afford their health care. That's going [8:20] to mean working with local and state [8:22] elected officials, health care [8:24] professionals and advocates. It's going [8:27] to mean working with nurses, unions in [8:30] our state and in our country who will [8:32] stand up for the patients that they [8:34] serve every single day in hospitals just [8:37] like this. It's going to take every [8:38] single one of us to guarantee that [8:40] mothers and fathers and family [8:43] caregivers like Carrie, who's with us [8:45] today, have the support and resources [8:47] that they need to continue to serve [8:50] their families and provide life-saving [8:52] care. Now is the time to step up and [8:55] fight back. And I would ask every single [8:58] motan to call your representative to [9:01] tell your Republican [9:04] congressmen and women to extend the [9:06] affordable care act tax credits to roll [9:08] back the $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts in [9:12] our country. Because if there's one [9:13] thing I know as a mother and more [9:16] importantly a grandmother [9:18] of three little boys that there's [9:21] nothing more important than the health [9:24] and safety of our families. So thank you [9:27] again for being here today. I'm so [9:28] honored to have these amazing advocates [9:31] standing behind me and I have the [9:33] pleasure of introducing a tireless [9:35] advocate for motans in district 41 where [9:38] we stand state senator Judy Seabberger. [9:41] Thank you again everyone. [9:49] >> Good morning everyone. I want to thank [9:51] Congresswoman Angie Craig for coming to [9:54] Hastings, one of the most beautiful [9:55] cities in my district to talk about this [9:58] important issue. I'm Senator Judy [10:00] Seabberger. I represent District 41. Um [10:03] and Hastings is not only within my [10:05] district, but we have beautiful uh [10:08] Regina Hospital, which is now United [10:10] Hospital. Regina campus um that I'm [10:13] pretty familiar with. I work as a [10:15] paramedic as some of you may know and am [10:17] frequently at this particular hospital [10:20] um transferring patients or bringing [10:22] patients in for the care that they need. [10:25] And I want to tell a story about what [10:27] has been happening what I've been seeing [10:29] in the last few months in the back of [10:31] the ambulance. [10:33] about 50% of the patients that I [10:37] encounter [10:39] don't want to be transported to the [10:41] hospital because they're concerned about [10:42] how they're going to pay for it. And [10:45] that's not okay. [10:47] When I'm in the back of the ambulance [10:49] with a patient who has chest pain or I'm [10:51] in the back of the ambulance who was [10:53] someone who is uh has been involved in a [10:56] trauma and they need to go to the [10:59] hospital to seek a higher level of care. [11:03] It bothers me that I have to reassure [11:06] them that yes, you do need to go to the [11:09] hospital. I'm not comfortable not [11:10] letting you go to the hospital, but [11:12] their only reservation is am I going to [11:15] be able to pay for it? That's not that's [11:17] not right. And that's not how we should [11:19] be living in the United States of [11:21] America. [11:23] When we look at our aging population, [11:25] those folks who rely on Medicare, when [11:28] we look at our folks in the disability [11:30] community or other communities that rely [11:32] on Medicaid, they are entitled to [11:34] medical care just like anybody else. [11:38] and cutting those benefits, [11:40] telling them that they don't have the [11:42] coverage or they're not going to have [11:44] the coverage that they need to treat [11:46] their conditions to monitor and manage [11:49] their health is cruel. [11:53] So that's why I'm grateful. I'm grateful [11:54] for folks like Congresswoman Angie Craig [11:57] who takes a stand, who fights for what's [11:59] right. and I'm proud to stand alongside [12:01] her within this district and throughout [12:04] greater Minnesota to ensure that all [12:06] folks have health care, no matter their [12:08] zip code, no matter their income, no [12:10] matter their age, their socioeconomic [12:12] status, their disability status, because [12:15] everyone deserves healthcare. [12:18] Again, I want to thank you for coming to [12:19] Hastings, uh, beautiful Hastings in my [12:21] district, and I'm going to turn it over [12:23] to Representative Beerman. [12:30] Well, it's a fitting place to be here at [12:33] Regina Hospital this morning to [12:36] highlight the impacts of the big ugly [12:39] bill as it is called. And I appreciate [12:43] uh the fact that this hospital is going [12:46] to experience what all hospitals across [12:48] the state of Minnesota are going to be [12:50] experiencing impacts from this bill. And [12:53] I appreciate Congresswoman Craig coming [12:55] to Regina Hospital to talk about it, to [12:58] put a spotlight on it, to focus on it [13:01] back in Washington as she does each and [13:03] every day. [13:05] As the co-chair of the health finance [13:07] and policy committee at the state [13:08] capital, I will tell you that we worked [13:10] very hard last session to address [13:13] hospital stabilization. [13:16] It was the number one priority of our [13:18] committee because we know the increasing [13:20] headwinds hospitals have been [13:22] experiencing for years. Low [13:25] reimbursement of Medicaid, uh, higher [13:27] inflation, higher labor costs, and a [13:29] growing burden of uncompensated care [13:31] that has been mentioned. In St. Paul, we [13:34] passed legislation to deliver [13:35] stabilization to improve Medicaid [13:38] delivery and increase reimbursement [13:40] rates so our providers and hospitals [13:42] could stay afloat. [13:45] This Republican bill undermines that [13:48] work. And it is astounding to me that [13:51] when policymakers [13:54] know that American health care systems [13:56] across the country need an infusion of [13:58] support, the Trump administration [14:00] chooses to divest resources and add [14:04] additional costly burdens to the state [14:06] and providers. [14:08] As mentioned, this is the largest cut in [14:10] 60 years at a time when the need is [14:12] greater than ever. [14:15] There's no upside to this bill. The [14:17] American health care system got a whole [14:19] lot worse with its passage and uh it [14:22] will especially affect hospitals, rural [14:24] hospitals, long-term care facilities, [14:27] and they will feel these effects [14:28] immediately. [14:30] As mentioned, many people are going to [14:32] be losing health insurance coverage. And [14:34] where will they go for care? When they [14:37] don't have coverage, their conditions [14:40] worsen and eventually they show up in [14:44] the emergency departments of places like [14:46] United Regina Hospital. [14:50] They will significantly increase the [14:53] uncompensated care costs for our [14:56] hospitals further. And we all pay for [14:58] this. We all pay with higher premiums. [15:01] There are higher taxes in properties and [15:03] simply put higher higher patient costs [15:06] for the medical care we all need. In [15:09] addition, as hospitals like this one [15:11] lose revenue, they are less able to [15:14] absorb those costs, putting all their [15:16] service lines if for the community at [15:19] risk. And we see this closures of [15:22] service lines, closures of clinics, [15:25] rural, urban because of this issue. The [15:29] bill also includes provisions that could [15:30] reduce Medicaid funding by altering [15:33] funds for arrangements for medical [15:35] education. [15:37] This is the very future of our [15:39] preparation for the next generation of [15:41] medical care. [15:43] Now, this administration has declared [15:45] their aim. [15:47] Make America healthy again is what they [15:49] say. Their actual policy though, this [15:51] actual bill does the exact opposite. [15:55] especially for the most needy, children, [15:57] elderly adults being cared for at home [16:00] and in nursing homes. The question is [16:03] why? And that has been answered, [16:06] tax cuts, moving to the wealthy. [16:10] But remember, Republicans control [16:12] government. They get to decide what [16:14] policy they choose. and they are [16:17] choosing health care, taking away health [16:19] care for millions of Americans and [16:21] giving those billionaires the tax [16:23] credits. [16:24] Medicaid cuts to support tax credits for [16:28] the wealthiest among us are bad enough [16:30] at this time right now. But I cannot [16:32] talk about these cuts and the impact on [16:35] hospitals without also mentioning the [16:37] gutting of funding for scientific [16:39] research including 500 million for MR [16:42] mRNA vaccine development. Cancer [16:44] research has been gutted 40%. Cuts to [16:47] the National Institute of Health, which [16:50] promotes life-saving research in all [16:52] kinds of ways, from Alzheimer's to [16:54] advancements in gene therapy. These cuts [16:57] have stopped trials arbitrarily, [17:00] and we risk losing the leadership, the [17:02] medical discovery leadership the US has [17:04] had for the last hundred years. This is [17:08] alarming. This is shocking. This is [17:11] egregious. Pick your adjective. [17:15] We should all be re [17:17] we should all be speaking about our [17:20] profound objection to this as [17:22] Congresswoman Craig does each and every [17:24] day and I applaud her for being here [17:25] today to do this. The the Regina [17:29] Hospital, the citizens of Hastings, the [17:32] people of Minnesota [17:35] deserve better than this. [17:37] Fortunately, my hope is that with the [17:39] fall legislative session, with enough [17:42] phone calls, as was mentioned, we need [17:44] lobbying. We need to keep pro promoting [17:46] and talking about this crisis on our [17:48] horizon that we can get Congress to do [17:50] something different in the next term. [17:54] Thank you for being here. I appreciate [17:56] it. And I think you're Jill is next. [18:00] >> Thanks, Representative Beerman. Good [18:02] morning. My name is Jill Astramm and I [18:04] serve as the president here at at [18:05] Hastings Regina. [18:08] I especially want to thank Congresswoman [18:10] Craig for her leadership and for being [18:12] such a strong advocate for patients, [18:15] families, and the hospitals that care [18:16] for them. It's a privilege to welcome [18:18] you to United Regina Hospital. [18:22] As a nonprofit missiondriven hospital, [18:25] we're open 247, 365 days a year to [18:28] provide care to our communities on their [18:31] best days and on their worst days. Last [18:34] year, more than 120,000 patient [18:36] encounters happened here in Hastings at [18:39] our hospital campus and our clinics. [18:42] Hospitals like Regina are also economic [18:45] anchors and community partners. Our [18:47] ability to continue to play these [18:49] essential roles in our community relies [18:51] heavily on federal health programs like [18:54] Medicare and Medicaid. Without these [18:56] programs, many hospitals would struggle [18:59] to keep their doors open. Medicare [19:02] ensures that seniors who make up a [19:04] growing percentage of our patients can [19:06] access timely, highquality care [19:09] regardless of income. It gives families [19:11] peace of mind that their loved ones will [19:13] receive the treatment they need. [19:16] Medicaid is equally critical. It [19:19] supports children, new mothers, people [19:21] with disabilities, and working families [19:23] so they have access to care. It also [19:26] underpins programs like behavioral [19:28] health and maternal health, which are [19:30] paramount to community well-being and [19:32] are chronically underfunded. [19:34] These programs, despite lagging [19:36] reimbursement, are a critical funding [19:38] mechanism to support health care systems [19:40] and hospitals like this one to provide [19:43] access to emergency care, trauma [19:45] services, and the things that our [19:46] community needs. These services need to [19:49] be available no matter what. Hospitals [19:52] are facing immense financial pressures. [19:54] The rising cost of supplies, drugs, [19:57] medical devices, and complex care for [19:59] patients are more uh are higher than [20:02] ever. And we're caring for patients with [20:04] more complex needs than ever before. [20:07] When people have coverage options, they [20:09] can live healthier lives. It ensures [20:12] they're not deterred from seeking health [20:15] care when they need it. Payments that we [20:17] receive from Medicare and Medicaid have [20:19] always lagged behind the actual cost of [20:22] care and it leaves us with unsustainable [20:25] gaps and the unfortunately the recently [20:28] passed legislation will only widen these [20:30] gaps. [20:32] Here at United Regina Hospital, we're [20:34] committed to delivering exceptional care [20:37] and we cannot do it alone. Navigating [20:39] this environment requires a strong [20:42] public private partnership. Strong and [20:45] reliable federal health programs are [20:47] crucial to ensure ensuring health care [20:49] ass access for everyone. They're the [20:52] backbone of our health care [20:53] infrastructure and they must be [20:55] protected and strengthened. [20:57] We're grateful for Congresswoman Craig, [21:00] Representative Seabourg, Representative [21:01] Beerman, and their work to continue to [21:03] pro protect and strengthen the programs [21:06] that ensure patients are covered and [21:09] cared for, and that hospitals like ours [21:11] can continue to serve for generations to [21:14] come. And with that, I'd like to [21:16] introduce Dan [21:18] to go next. [21:20] >> Thanks, Jill. [21:23] Well, good morning everybody. I first [21:26] want to thank uh Representative uh Craig [21:29] for inviting me here today. Just a [21:31] little bit about uh my organization, the [21:33] National Committee to Preserve Social [21:35] Security and Medicare. Uh we're a [21:36] nationwide organization with more than a [21:39] a million members. Uh and we were first [21:41] started uh in 1982 [21:44] uh by uh then Congress Congressman from [21:47] California Jim Roosevelt who just [21:49] happened to be the eldest son of [21:51] Franklin Delner Roosevelt and first lady [21:53] Elner Roosevelt the creator of social [21:55] security and by ex so you might say that [21:58] social security is in our DNA but by [22:00] extension we are also advocates for [22:02] Lyndon Baines Johnson's vision which was [22:05] created 60 years ago which was Medicare [22:07] Medicaid and the older Americans act. Uh [22:09] so that's all we do as an organization. [22:11] We focus on our advocacy like a laser [22:13] beam with members of Congress. Uh and so [22:16] that's something that that that we're [22:18] proud of and we're we're happy to do. So [22:21] uh many of you may know that Medicare [22:24] pays for half of all long-term care in [22:26] this country. For most people, it's the [22:28] only game in town. Uh and that's why, uh [22:30] cutting Medicaid by $1 trillion, uh is [22:34] going to affect long-term care. uh [22:36] twothirds of the people uh who are [22:37] nursing home residents are covered by uh [22:40] by Medicaid. So what does cutting [22:42] Medicaid to that to that magnitude mean? [22:45] Well, it means that nursing homes are [22:47] going to be receiving less funding, [22:48] which means that some nursing homes may [22:50] actually be in the position of closing, [22:52] especially if they're already operating [22:53] on the margin. It also means that states [22:56] like Minnesota may be required to limit [22:58] eligibility for somebody going into a [23:00] nursing home. And then finally, one of [23:02] the things that state Medicaid programs [23:04] may be forced to do uh is to make me uh [23:07] nursing home residents and their [23:09] families pay part of the cost of [23:11] long-term care. And when you're talking [23:13] about the Medicaid program, because [23:14] people have to impoverish themselves to [23:17] seek eligibility and you're talking [23:19] about a lot of the middle class people [23:20] who have to who are put in that position [23:22] to impoverish themselves, they don't [23:24] exactly have a lot of disposable income [23:26] left over uh to pay for other costs that [23:28] might be associated with a nursing home. [23:31] So they're already they're already [23:32] working at a disadvantage. So one [23:35] another important aspect of long-term [23:37] care, home and community based services. [23:40] uh of the six million people in this [23:42] country who use long-term care, [23:44] threearters of them get it through home [23:45] and community based services. What I [23:47] mean by that is they're either receiving [23:49] care in the home or in a community [23:51] setting like day adult daycare. So why [23:54] is it important? Well, first off, your [23:56] quality of life is get better. If you've [23:58] ever had to deal with an elderly [24:00] relative, uh when you give them the [24:02] choice of going into a nursing home or [24:04] staying at home, it's a no-brainer. Uh [24:06] they want to stay at home. They want to [24:07] stay in surrounding uh uh familiar [24:10] surroundings and so that's where they're [24:12] going to want to be. Uh I would say nine [24:14] times out of ten unless they have a [24:16] severe deisibility where they can't be [24:17] cared care cared for at home, they're [24:19] going to want to be at home. And the [24:20] other part that's of huge advantage of [24:23] home and community based uh services is [24:25] it's usually less expensive than being [24:28] in a nursing home. So it's something [24:30] that's good for the Medicaid program, [24:32] good uh for people who need home and [24:35] community based services. But here's the [24:37] thing that a lot of people don't know [24:38] about home and community based services. [24:40] In uh in the medic the federal Medicaid [24:43] law, it is an optional service, meaning [24:45] that states don't have to provide it. [24:47] And so states like Minnesota uh that are [24:50] going to be cashstrapped because they're [24:52] going to have to pay a larger share of [24:53] Medicaid and pay a larger share of SNAP [24:56] benefits, that means they're going to [24:58] have less money uh for to go around in [25:01] total. Uh but if there is a Medicaid [25:03] service that can go, it's going to be [25:05] home and community based services. And [25:06] so we're afraid what's going to happen [25:08] because of the big ugly bill and because [25:10] of cutting Medicaid by $1 trillion a lot [25:13] is that many states are going to decide [25:15] either they're going to severely cut [25:16] their home and community based services [25:18] or they're going to get rid of them [25:19] altogether. So the advantage the quality [25:21] of life that one receives from being in [25:24] a home and community based setting is [25:25] going to go away uh in a lot of states [25:27] that aren't going to be able to provide [25:28] it and that's a real shame. Uh so uh [25:32] before I close, I want to thank uh uh [25:35] Representative Craig for inviting me uh [25:37] uh today. We haven't talked about that [25:39] much this morning, but uh Representative [25:41] Craig is the ranking uh minority on uh [25:44] the a House Agriculture Committee, and [25:46] she was a real advocate on trying to [25:48] push back against the SNAP cuts, the [25:50] food nutrition programs, uh that were in [25:52] the big ugly bill. Uh and we joined her [25:54] in that effort to to oppose it. But we [25:56] want to thank her also for opposing the [25:58] overall bill and trying to do everything [26:01] uh to recover from this monstrosity of [26:03] legislation that's really going to [26:04] undermine people's health and and food [26:06] security. And with that, I'd like to [26:08] introduce my fellow advocate uh Carrie [26:11] Oliver. Carrie, [26:18] >> thank you, Dan. Good morning everyone [26:20] and thank you especially to [26:21] Representative Craig and our hospital [26:23] hosts and all of you here today for the [26:26] opportunity to speak about how Medicare [26:28] saves lives. My name is Carrie Utelman. [26:31] I live in nearby Lakeville and I'm part [26:34] of a family of caregivers. Together we [26:36] love and care for my son Keegan, an [26:39] Iraqi war veteran and father who was [26:42] critically injured in 2015. [26:45] Keegan sustained a severe traumatic [26:47] brain injury that left him unable to [26:49] walk, feed himself, or speak. He has [26:53] limited control over his body and [26:55] suffers from life-threatening seizures. [26:58] He requires constant st care and [27:01] protection every hour of the day. When [27:04] it was time for him to leave the [27:06] hospital after nearly a year, we were [27:08] told to place him in a facility, a [27:11] nursing home. He was 34. [27:15] For us, there was never a question. He [27:18] belongs at home, surrounded by love, [27:20] stability, and the people who know him [27:22] best. His wife and children sold their [27:25] home. We sold ours. And together, we [27:28] created one household where he could [27:30] live his best life in the heart of our [27:32] family. Simply put, Medicaid made this [27:36] possible. Medicaid covers his [27:39] medications, equipment, and the [27:41] caregivers who help us keep him safe. [27:45] But what it's really given us is [27:47] something harder to measure. The chance [27:50] for him to be present in his children's [27:53] lives, to share in their laughter, and [27:56] to continue being a husband, a father, [27:58] and a son. [28:00] That is what these programs mean. [28:03] They're not just numbers on a budget [28:06] line. They're lifelines. They are the [28:09] difference between a family being torn [28:12] apart and a family being held together. [28:15] And that's why I'm grateful to leaders [28:17] like Representative Craig who understand [28:21] what's at stake for families like mine. [28:24] She has stood up to efforts to cut [28:26] Medicaid and Medicare. She's worked to [28:29] keep health care affordable and [28:31] accessible. And she's listened to [28:33] families like mine. families who know [28:36] from lived experience that survival, [28:38] dignity, and happiness depend on these [28:42] programs being protected. [28:44] So, I want to leave you with two truths [28:46] from our story. First, Medicaid saves [28:50] lives. My son is the living proof. [28:54] Without Medicaid, he would not have the [28:56] equipment, medications, or care that [28:58] keep him safe at home with the people [29:00] who love him. And that's why it's [29:03] heartbreaking and frankly outrageous [29:05] when some in Washington talk about [29:08] cutting these programs. Cuts don't just [29:11] trim budgets. Cuts cost lives. [29:15] Secondly, dignity and happiness are [29:18] non-negotiable. [29:20] Keegan deserves both and so does every [29:23] person whose health and safety depend on [29:26] Medicare and Medicaid. These programs [29:28] aren't charity. their survival, dignity, [29:32] and happiness. On behalf of Keegan, my [29:35] family, and countless others, thank you [29:38] for protecting the programs that keep us [29:40] safe and together. Medicaid saves lives. [29:44] Medicaid isn't charity. It's survival, [29:47] dignity, and happiness. And when we [29:50] protect it, families thrive. Thank you. [29:54] And back to our champion, Representative [29:56] Craig. [29:58] Well, thank you to everyone uh for your [30:01] remarks this morning. They were [30:02] extraordinary. Carrie, uh special thank [30:04] you to you. I've had the privilege of [30:06] meeting Keegan. Uh and also seeing what [30:08] it's like in your lives uh a day in the [30:12] life of caring for Keegan was one of the [30:14] most um uh biggest privileges of my [30:17] career uh as a United States member of [30:20] Congress. So uh thank you so much to [30:22] everyone. So, I'm going to conclude this [30:24] press conference uh and just uh say, are [30:27] there any questions that you'd like to [30:29] ask of the panel uh before we uh depart [30:35] >> real quick? Um there's a rural hospital [30:38] fund here. Uh can you talk about whether [30:40] you think that's going to make a [30:41] difference, number one, and number two, [30:43] half that money is at the discretion of [30:44] the CMS director? Are you worried about [30:46] the distribution of that and whether it [30:48] will be fair for all the states? Yeah, [30:50] on the rural hospital fund, uh even my [30:52] Republican colleagues know that that is [30:54] going to be insufficient to cover the [30:56] damage to rural hospitals in our [30:58] country. Um you know, I was uh just up [31:02] in uh Hendricks uh recently and to just [31:06] see how far it is for many of our our [31:10] people in greater Minnesota to be able [31:12] to get to those hospitals. I am uh very [31:15] concerned that we are going to see the [31:16] closure of rural hospitals and we know [31:20] all of us know that that fund was [31:21] inadequate. I'm very concerned uh that [31:24] the head of CMS will deny on a [31:27] discretionary basis those funds and [31:29] we'll make the distribution of those [31:30] funds political. Um, you know, as a [31:34] motan, uh, we consider fairness, uh, [31:38] important and anytime you allow politics [31:42] to get involved in healthcare, it's just [31:45] a damn shame in our country. [31:48] >> One off topic regarding the shooting [31:49] today. I've just been told that there [31:52] are probably about 20 victims, some of [31:54] them children. Do you have anything to [31:56] say about that? [32:01] So, I'm I haven't heard that, but it's [32:05] devastating for our community. Um, we [32:08] know that the prolifer proliferation uh [32:11] of firearms in our community is keeping [32:15] us from being safe in our own [32:18] communities. And so any place of [32:21] worship, any school, anywhere in our [32:24] community where this kind of evil [32:28] is able to proliferate uh is [32:30] unsustainable as a society. And I'd like [32:34] to learn more about what's happening [32:36] there before I make further comments, [32:37] but um [32:41] what a tragedy. [32:43] And I'll just add thoughts and prayers [32:46] aren't enough. I just learned about the [32:48] facts, so I don't want to say more. Um, [32:52] but [32:54] when the leading death of young people [32:58] is fire firearms in our country, uh, we [33:01] have a significant problem in our [33:03] country. [33:07] >> Thank you. [33:08] >> Thank you everyone. Appreciate you being [33:09] here.