Ruben Bastell Advocates to Protect Medicaid for Patients and Family

Medicaid Cuts Could Lead to Delayed Treatments, Warns Lab Technician

The potential reduction in Medicaid funding is raising significant concerns among healthcare professionals who fear it could lead to delayed testing and diagnosis for patients. Ruben Bastell, a senior laboratory technician affiliated with Local 860 (CSEA/AFSCME 1000), shares these concerns, emphasizing the critical role Medicaid plays in timely patient care.

"If there's further delay in testing and diagnosis," Bastell warns, "people won't get timely treatment, and there'll be a lot more sickness." His remarks highlight the broader implications of potential Medicaid cuts on public health.

Bastell recently made the journey from New York to Washington, joining numerous members of AFSCME in their advocacy efforts. Together, they lobbied members of both the House and Senate, urging them to maintain funding for essential programs like Medicaid and Medicare, which millions of Americans rely on.

For Bastell, the issue hits close to home. His 24-year-old brother, who has been living with kidney disease since birth, relies heavily on Medicaid for his medical care. "He's able to live a full life because of the care that he receives through Medicaid," Bastell explains, underscoring the personal stakes involved in this national debate.