FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 1, 2022
CONTACTS: Will Pregman, [email protected], 702.752.0656
Congresswoman Titus, Community Members Joined Battle Born Progress to Celebrate the 57th Anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid
NEVADA – This morning, Battle Born Progress was joined by Congresswoman Dina Titus and community members Mary Dungan, Brenda Rodriguez, and Yarleny Roa-Dugan to celebrate the 57th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid. Saturday, July 30th marked 57 years since President Lyndon B. Johnson created the two biggest government health insurance programs.
“As a founding member of the Medicare for All Caucus, I was pleased to join Battle Born Progress and community leaders today to celebrate the anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid. These programs now insure over 140 million people and provide access to a range of health care services and benefits that Nevada families depend on. Whether it’s routine preventive care, prenatal or maternity care for new moms, addiction treatment, or rapid response to national crises like pandemics, Medicaid and Medicare are fundamental pillars of our country’s healthcare system. It’s long past time for everyone to have access to these life-saving programs,” said Congresswoman Titus.
“Through the help of having Medicaid when I was pregnant with my son I was able to not have to worry about a ridiculous amount of bills from my delivery. If I wasn’t able to have help from Medicaid I would have been paying for my son’s birth for years because at the time I was uninsured. I was also able to enroll my son in Medicaid once he was born which helped with all of the pediatrician visits that he had to have. I’m thankful for these programs which have helped millions of people like myself” said Brenda Rodriguez, Story Bank Organizer for Battle Born Progress.
“As a veteran who has been insured through the Veterans Association I have been able to go to appointments and have my prescriptions filled at a lower rate. Last year I had to undergo a surgery and was able to enroll in Medicare as well and I was thankful to not have to worry about bills and high prescription drug prices. Medicare has been a life saver for me and we have to continue to protect these programs,” said Mary Dungan, community member.
“In Nevada 44% of births are financed by Medicaid and in the United States 42% of births are financed by Medicaid. This beautiful moment of people’s lives can be obscured by the amount of money they have to pay once their baby is born, Medicaid helps countless people be able to live their lives without worrying about a huge bill. For 57 years, Medicaid and Medicare have been a lifeline and resource for workers, families, state budgets and people of all ages. Whether it’s regular preventive care, prenatal or maternity care for new moms, addiction treatment in the swelling opioid epidemic or rapid response to national crises like pandemics, Medicaid and Medicare are fundamental pillars of the American healthcare system that we all depend on.” said Yarleny Roa-Dugan, a labor and delivery nurse.
Spokespeople in Spanish or English are available for individual interviews.
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