Caregivers, families rally against proposed Medicaid Cuts in Wasilla

Caregivers, families, and healthcare professionals from the Mat-Su and Anchorage gathered outside Senator Dan Sullivan’s Wasilla office on June 24 to bring attention to the lives and health care at risk if Congress enacts cuts to Medicaid.

It is estimated that more than 250,000 Alaskans rely on Medicaid for care.

Organized by Alaska Caregivers, Protect Our Care Alaska, and Mat-Su United for Progress, the event featured personal stories and photos representing the care and people who are at risk for losing benefits by provisions in the budget reconciliation bill, dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill.” Attendees also had an opportunity to speak with Senator Sullivan’s staff.

The bill has already passed the House of Representatives and now awaits passage from the Senate, which they are hoping to do by July 4.

“We’re here to day because of the ‘Big, Bad, Bill,’ otherwise known as the reconciliation bill. This will change America, and not for the good,” said Dave Musgrave. “This is the most dangerous bill I’ve ever seen. What we haven’t heard from Dan Sullivan’s office is if he is going to make changes to the bill.” We need to let him know that this is not fair to Alaskans on Medicaid.”

Musgrave said that if Senator Sullivan votes in favor of the bill with Medicaid cuts, work will begin to mount a campaign to vote him out of office in 2026, when he is up for re-election.

“1,750,000 vets depend on Medicaid for primary healthcare. 400,000 vets are unable to qualify and have no health insurance. And of course this includes all the less fortunate among us. Medicaid is for everyone who can’t afford it. So if Senator Sullivan, who says he cares about vets, then he should do something about this,” said John Harris, an Army veteran who served from 1974 to 1976.

“The wealthiest country in the world should be able to provide medical care for all of its citizens. It is sad that we neglect half of our population,” said Tom Tyskiewicz, who made the trip to Wasilla from Anchorage along with his wife and their 24-year-old son Mark, who they both care for.

“As a retired family physician of 41 years in Palmer, I can attest to the fact that hospitals both large and small, plus nursing homes, and many people who require medical care depend on Medicaid,” said Dr. David Werner. “Self-pay patients will see hospital bills rise and the amount of their medical debt increase,” he warned.

Meanwhile, Dr. Peter Bauer was there for his mother, who has Alzheimer’s and his sister, who had been taking care of their mother, but is no longer able to as she herself was diagnosed with an illness herself. He said the monthly healthcare costs are over $14,000 and without Medicaid, he isn’t sure how they will afford it.

“Any cut or devaluation to Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP, or any of these programs results in people suffering and people dying. You can say it’s not, but it does.”

According to a report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), if the bill is passed in its current form, it is estimated that an additional 10.9 million people will be without health insurance by 2034, compared to the current Medicaid program.

For his part, Senator Sullivan introduced an amendment, establishing a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to protecting Medicare and Medicaid, “which may include strengthening and improving Medicaid for the most vulnerable populations, and extending the life of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund… provided that such legislation would not increase the deficit over the period of the total of fiscal years 2025 through 2034.”

While it was aimed at protecting the “most vulnerable,” there were no specific guidelines to who would be considered the most vulnerable. His amendment passed along party lines, 51 to 49.

But when a different amendment to delete budget instructions to slash Medicaid came up for a vote, the senator opposed that attempt to protect Medicaid.

The attendees applauded the staff at Senator Sullivan’s office for accommodating them, which does not normally see this type of activity, but instead works with constituents from the community. Margaret Sharpe, who reiterated the Senator’s stand that the bill will not make cuts, but instead will allow people to keep their benefits and strengthen Medicaid, met with small groups to hear their stories.

“I felt we were heard at this level. She was a good listener and took a lot of notes. Even when she found out I was not from the Valley, she accepted our comments. It went very well,” said Maureen Tyskiewicz. “If you don’t do anything, it’s not going to change. So every little thing may not have an effect on his voting, but if you don’t say something, they won’t know.”

“The more we repeat our stories, the more others share their impact stories, it’s going to sink in,” added Evie Mcnamee, who shared a letter from her employer, who relies on Medicaid, stating in part that people believe it is for children in poverty, adults suffering fro addiction, but many people rely on Medicaid due to issues beyond their control. Her employer was unable to return to work because she had to take care of her daughter, who requires constant care, and several years ago her husband passed away.

“We call this ‘Death by a Trillion Cuts’ because that’s exactly what it feels like,” said event organizer Amber Lee. “Every dollar cut from Medicaid puts real Alaskans—seniors, children, veterans, working families—at risk.”

This event was part of a week of statewide action to push back against federal Medicaid cuts and ask that Alaska’s congressional delegation support constituents' health and economic security.