TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)— More than a dozen Hoosier organizations will be hosting events in cities across Indiana to demonstrate how federal cuts are affecting communities.
14 Indiana-based organizations are organizing the events in cities and small towns across the Hoosier state to demonstrate how federal cuts to essential health and food programs are impacting the areas. Medicaid members, healthcare workers, faith and community leaders, will be sharing their experiences at the events to underscore the importance of these programs to Hoosiers regardless of their age, race, and ability.
The events will be held on July 26, which is also the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the organizers want to recognize that anyone can become a person with a disability at any time. This emphasizes the statistic that Medicaid is used as an essential lifeline that provides healthcare coverage for 44% of Hoosier adults with disabilities and 66% of nursing home residents.
The news release from Hoosier Action states that an estimated 267,996 Hoosiers, including children, seniors, and people with disabilities, will lose healthcare from the funding cuts. Those coverage losses could be even higher if the state decides to roll back eligibility in response to the cuts. Nearly 2 million individuals in the state of Indiana rely on Medicaid programs for their healthcare.
The release also spoke on how Ball State economist, Michael J. Hicks, and our sister station, Fox 59, listed 20 rural hospitals that are in danger of closing due to budget cuts.
The release also talks about how cutting Food Stamps will affect an estimated 128,000 people and how eliminating the free and reduced-price school lunches will affect children being fed when nearly half of all Hoosier children qualify for the program.
Here is a list of the Families First protests and gatherings being held on July 26 in Indiana:
- Terre Haute
- 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
- Vigo County Courthouse
- Greencastle
- 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
- 1 Courthouse Square
- Salem
- 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- 407 North Main Street
- Merrillville
- 11:30 am to 1:30 pm
- Entrance to Methodist Hospital Southlake
- Mitchell
- 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- Friendship Park
- Winchester to Richmond Caravan
- 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- 527 East Greenville Avenue to Middlefork Reservoir, shelter #3 (closest to the dog park)
- St. Joseph County
- 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- State Highway 933 & Brother Andre Drive
- Fort Wayne
- 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Headwaters Park
