By Dan Shearer | Green Valley News and Sun
If efforts to expand Medicaid fail in the Legislature, rural hospitals could close, emergency care could take days, and metro-area hospitals will be overwhelmed, state Sen. Linda Lopez said Saturday.
Lopez and state Reps. Andrea Dalessandro and Rosanna Gabaldon, all Legislative District 2 Democrats, held their first joint public meeting at Sahuarita Town Hall. About 70 people attended.
Lopez, a veteran lawmaker who is new to the Green Valley-Sahuarita area because of redistricting, told the audience that expanded Medicaid is not just for the poor.
“If we don’t get Medicaid expansion, our rural hospitals will likely close down,” she said. “Holy Cross Hospital in Santa Cruz County will no longer be able to function, to exist.”
“If you think your wait in the emergency room is long now, it could take days. I’m not trying to exaggerate that – it’s very true.”
The state Senate on May 16 approved Gov. Brewer’s plan to expand Medicaid, a move that would add at least 300,000 people to state AHCCCS roles. Brewer said a failure to act would mean 60,000 people would lose coverage Dec. 31. AHCCCS is Arizona’s Medicaid program.
