Philadelphia, Pa – – May 19, 2025 – Last week, Senator Vincent Hughes, chairman of the Democratic Senate, organized a round table in the Baptist church enon tabernacle with legislators and healthcare leaders to discuss how to influence the black Pennsylvanians proposed by congress republicans. It was the second Senator of the Hughes round table in the last monthTo combine decision -makers and stakeholders in order to determine how federal health insurance cuts can affect the health ecosystem and residents of Pennsylvania.
“We must be informed, we must be educated and we must be brutally honest as to what these federal cuts can mean for the black community”, ” Senator Hughes said.
In Pennsylvania, about 3 million people- almost 1 on 4 Pennsylvanians- are covered by Medicaid and Chip. Almost 20% of these Pennsylvania on Medicaid is black. All Americans took advantage of the provisions in the Act on affordable price, which make health insurance available and cheaper.
Senator Hughes explained “We must vote in this conversation. We are directors and founders of the expansion of health insurance- it was President Obama who made the act on inexpensive care happened. And together with the senators Haywood and Street and our democratic colleagues, they conducted efforts in Harrisburg to fully develop Medicaid in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania will benefit from the fact that it is available and high quality.
Last week, there were news that the Republicans are progressing with a plan to reduce Medicaid by implementing work requirements and a more complicated process for recipients to verify their eligibility. . impartial estimates of the Congress Budget Office Republican Medicaid cuts would lead to the fact that 10.3 million people lose protection under Medicaid, and 7.6 million uninsured people.
“Medicaid is often stigmatized, but in fact this care is necessary and its support for our communities. We have the right to health.” he said Danielle Brooks, Quality Director of Equity Health Equity, Americaalth Caritas. “These proposed cuts can worsen access and affordability. We must make sure that we are able to offer high -quality health services at all stages of human life.”
From today morning, The cuts passed through the Congress Budget Commission of the Chamber. According to Reuters, possible voting over a passage in the House of Representatives can take place this week.
Senator Art Haywood said“We haven’t lost yet. There is a fight we have to get involved in, and this conversation will help us in this fight. We can’t give up before the end of the fight.”
Full Video Round Table is available online. Participants of the Round Table included:
- Senator Vincent Hughes, chairman of the Senate democratic means
- Senator Art Haywood, chairman of the Health and Social Welfare Committee
- Senator Sharif Street, chairman of the Banking and Insurance Committee
- Devon Trolley, executive director of Pennie
- Reverend Alyn Waller, senior pastor, enon tabernacle baptist church
- Reverend Leroy Miles, Associate Pastor or Pastoral Care and Dorading, Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church
- Healthcare leaders and supporters
- Dr. Arga Allen-Wilson, co-founder and clinical director-Mental Health First Connects Inc
- Donna Bailey, CEO Community Behavioural Health
- Dr. Denise Baker, Pediatrician, Jefferson Health
- Jim Baker, chairman of the Mayor of the Drug and Alcohol Committee, fleeting president of the Hospital and Higher Education Office and a member of the board of the Directors of the Eagleville Hospital
- Dr. Cheryl Bettigole, professor, clinical family medicine and community health, Perelman School of Medicine
- Farida Boyer, executive director and co -founder, Black Brain Campania Association
- Ayana Bradshaw, president and general director, Accessatters
- Danielle Brooks, Quality Director Equity Health Equity, Amerihealth Caritas
- Dionne Gary, president, District 1199C NUHHCE
- Katherine Levins, Vice President for Public Policy and Government Affairs, Temple Health
- Dr. Michael Luke, Pediatric Hospital Medicine Fellow, Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia
- Dr. Priscilla MPASI, National Vice President of Emerita, Student of the National Medical Association
- Dr. Ala Stanford, founder of the Black Doctors consortium, professor at the University of Pennsylvania, former regional director of HHS
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