To: Congressman Doug LaMalfa

Petition Statement: We, the undersigned residents of Congressional District 1, and concerned citizens, urge our federal representatives to oppose any reductions in Medicaid funding and federal health care grants. These cuts would have devastating consequences for the health and well-being of our community, particularly for the most vulnerable among us.

Background: In Shasta County, over 66,000 individuals—more than one in three residents—rely on Partnership HealthPlan of California for their health care needs. This reliance is even greater in rural areas, where lower-income families are more prevalent. Partnership serves as the Medicaid (Medi-Cal) provider in our region, with the federal government covering 50% of Medicaid expenses for most services.

Cuts to Medicaid reimbursements or federal health care grants would force providers to scale back or eliminate critical services. This would disproportionately impact the most marginalized members of our community, including the 30,000 patients at Shasta Community Health Center who live at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. In CD1, over 39% of the residents rely on Medicaid / Medical.  Without adequate funding, many would lose access to essential care, leading to increased emergency room visits and hospitalizations—an unsustainable burden on our health care system.

What We Request: We call on you, our elected representatives to:

Protect Medicaid funding and ensure reimbursement rates remain sufficient to sustain essential health care services.
Preserve federal health care grants and awards that support critical ancillary services addressing complex health conditions and social determinants of health.

Why This Matters:

Over one in three of Congressional District One residents depend on Medicaid for their health care.
Cuts to funding would jeopardize access to care for the most vulnerable populations, including children and low-income families.
The strain on emergency services and hospitals would increase costs for everyone and overwhelm an already taxed system. This will lead to unnecessary dire health consequences for our residents. 

Call to Action: We demand that you, our federal representatives prioritize the health and well-being of their constituents by opposing any cuts to Medicaid and federal health care funding. Our community’s access to health care hangs in the balance, and we urge immediate action to protect these vital resources.