May Day march in Salinas over Medicaid and health care budget cuts

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) -- People making it out to the streets of Salinas in what has been a national initiative. Marches and rallies have broken out in various cities, some here concerned about potential Medicaid cuts. 

Chants, posters, and community concerns. 

Hundreds made it out to the old Monterey County courthouse to protest potential cuts to Medicaid.  

“People's lives and their health is going to be on the line,” Supervisor Luis Alejo saying in support of those present. 

Medi-Cal, the name the medicaid service receives in California, covers nearly 15 million people in the state. Data from the California Healthcare Foundation says nearly 38 percent of residents have some sort of medical debt. Some say, reductions to Medicaid will only make that worse. 

“Any additional cuts or limits to coverage for residents would be devastating,” Francisco Rodriguez, director of Monterey Bay Labor Council, says. “It would lead to even more medical debt and, in some cases, to bankruptcy for families.” 

The proposed cuts would look to add per-capita caps to costs. Some here see that as a major issue in Monterey County, where healthcare is already one of the most expensive in the state.

Republicans saying they would look to add more requirements to ensure services are provided only to those who need it most. Still, Rodrguez is saying the priority should be looking to provide affordable healthcare for all. 

“Assuming that only those who need it the most should get it is only going to lead to health care crises,” he says. “What we need to do is ensure that everybody has the ability to go to a doctor for preventive care as well as to address whatever medical issues they're facing at that time.” 

He says this can be done by reducing costs and incentivizing competition among healthcare providers. 

Both legislative chambers setting a July 4 deadline to make this decision.