Ronneberg Fights for Medicaid to Save Rural Health Care in West Virginia

West Virginians Face Health Care Challenges Amid Proposed Medicaid Cuts

Dan Ronneberg recently faced a health scare that unveiled deeper issues within West Virginia's healthcare system. Initially visiting the emergency room suspecting appendicitis, Ronneberg was diagnosed with liver cancer, necessitating a transplant. His journey for treatment took him from Charles Town, West Virginia, to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, highlighting the limited resources available in his local healthcare facilities.

Ronneberg, who serves as president of AFSCME Local 1653 and works as a regulatory analyst for the Federal Aviation Administration, expresses significant concern over the healthcare quality in West Virginia. His state, characterized by its rural nature, heavily depends on Medicaid to keep hospitals operational. This dependency is at risk due to a new budget proposal in Congress. The proposed legislation could potentially strip hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid and other essential programs, favoring tax cuts for the wealthiest individuals.

The financial implications of the bill are alarming for West Virginia, where Ronneberg notes the potential loss of $5.74 billion in Medicaid funding. Currently, 522,000 adults and children are enrolled in Medicaid in the state, with a significant portion residing in rural areas and many dealing with multiple chronic conditions. Medicaid is crucial, covering nearly half of all births and the vast majority of nursing home residents in West Virginia.

Ronneberg's personal experience underscores the healthcare crisis in rural areas, as he now requires dialysis and a kidney transplant, procedures for which he has to travel out of state due to inadequate local resources. "I’m fortunate to have federal health insurance and the ability to travel. But I shouldn’t have to, and neither should anyone else in West Virginia," Ronneberg stated. "This is a life or death situation for many West Virginians."

His concerns extend beyond personal health. Ronneberg's advocacy led him to Capitol Hill, where he aimed to influence lawmakers, including West Virginia Senator Shelley Moore Capito, to oppose the budget bill. He believes the proposed cuts would devastate Medicaid, SNAP, and other vital services, further exacerbating the disparities faced by the state's vulnerable populations.

Ronneberg, who grew up in rural Michigan, empathizes with West Virginians who rely on Medicaid and food assistance programs. He advocates for increased healthcare investment in West Virginia, highlighting the stark contrast in wealth and living standards between West Virginia and neighboring states like Pennsylvania and Virginia. "When you look at the relative wealth of this area, Pennsylvania, Virginia, they have some good standards of living. You look at West Virginia, which is right next door, there is a huge income gap," Ronneberg said. "There is a huge gap in terms of education. West Virginia suffers in a lot of ways."

For more information about Medicaid in West Virginia, visit this link. To learn more about District Council 20, click here.