Forum at Pitt-Johnstown highlights concerns over potential for Medicaid cuts
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Twenty-one percent of Somerset County's population was enrolled in some type of Medicaid coverage as of March. The number was even higher in Cambria County, at 26%.
Numerous services were available to those people with limited income or resources, including inpatient hospital treatment, transportation, rural health clinics, drug and alcohol rehab, pediatric care and nursing facility living.
Recently, though, a Republican budget resolution was introduced calling for the House Energy and Commerce Committee to cut at least $880 billion in costs through 2034. That could require making significant reductions to Medicaid, a joint federal-state program that the committee oversees.
Medicaid spending was approximately $890 billion in 2023, with the federal government covering about two-thirds and states contributing the remainder.
Medicaid Matters forum
Panelists United Way of the Southern Alleghenies President and CEO Karen Struble Myers, certified community health worker Jason Rilogio, and Highlands Health Clinic Executive Director Rosalie Danchanko participate in Locals for Good's Medicaid Matters forum at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown's John P. Murtha Center for Public Service and National Competitiveness on Monday, April 21, 2025.
On Monday, a newly formed group called Locals for Good brought attention to the issue by hosting a Medicaid Matters forum at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown's John P. Murtha Center for Public Service and National Competitiveness.
The panel consisted of Highlands Health Clinic Executive Director Rosalie Danchanko, certified community health worker Jason Rilogio, United Way of the Southern Alleghenies President and CEO Karen Struble Myers, Center for Population Health Executive Director Jeannine McMillan, and Cambria Residential Services Executive Director Jim Cook. The event was moderated by The Tribune-Democrat Publisher Chip Minemyer.
'There's so much disinformation out there about what it actually does, what it actually means to people,' Locals for Good volunteer Todd Holsopple said. 'We wanted to give this opportunity as a way for people to learn more about it.'
Medicaid Matters forum
Center for Population Health Executive Director Jeannine McMillan gives a presentation during Locals for Good's Medicaid Matters forum at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown's John P. Murtha Center for Public Service and National Competitiveness on Monday, April 21, 2025.
All the panelists expressed concerns about what could happen if big cuts are made to Medicaid.
'I've followed this forever and I'm not an alarmist, but in 55 years of studying government in Washington, this is the most threatening, frightening thing I have seen in 55 years,' Cook said.
Danchanko said there are 'a lot of problems' and 'a lot of concerns,' but hoped that the forum would educate people 'so that we can move forward to take action.'
Struble Myers said cuts would 'hurt our most vulnerable residents.'
'Above all else, it feels like a penalty for being in poverty. … Taking away fundamental health care for folks will ultimately debilitate our community,' she said.
Medicaid Matters forum
United Way of the Southern Alleghenies President and CEO Karen Struble Myers speaks during Locals for Good's Medicaid Matters forum at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown's John P. Murtha Center for Public Service and National Competitiveness on Monday, April 21, 2025.
Rilogio said reductions could negatively affect local hospitals and necessitate states taking money from other areas in order to offset losses of federal Medicaid dollars.
'If our hospitals fail, everybody that works in human services or medical won't have a job,' Rilogio said. 'I don't understand. I think the whole city should be in this room. There's not going to be food for all the people that are laid off, all the nurses, all the cleaning staff at the hospitals.'
McMillan talked about reactions she is seeing in the community.
'We do hear (concerns) from folks every day,' McMillan said, 'and we're really just trying to bring some of that localized data and conversation around that, let folks share their concerns. Hopefully we can take those concerns back to some of our elected leaders and share what we've heard from their constituents.'
Locals for Good plans to host a Defend Medicaid rally beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday at Central Park in downtown Johnstown.
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