By: Ashmar Mandou

Healthcare advocates and representatives of more than 30 different organizations across the state rallied in front the Thompson Center on Tuesday to protest the affects the American Health Care Act will have on people with disabilities.

It is estimated that the American Health Care Act, passed earlier this spring by the U.S. House of Representatives, will cut more than $800 billion from Medicaid over the next ten years. This translates to $24 billion in Federal funding for Illinois, which provides nearly 500,000 people with disabilities with the supports that allow them to live independently. In Illinois, Medicaid provides nearly 500,000 people with disabilities with access to support that allows them to live independently. Under the American Health Care Act, “Per capita caps” will devastate Medicaid-funded services that people with disabilities need to live, work and participate in their communities. The American Health Care Act, if passed, will cut more than $800 billion from Medicaid over the next decade. Illinois stands to lose $24 billion in Federal funding. Thousands of people with disabilities will lose access to specialized healthcare services, like nursing, personal care and therapies, according to nonprofit Access Living.

Illinois Representative Greg Harris (13th District), Representative Will Guzzardi ( 39th District), and Representative Theresa Mah (2nd District) attended and spoke at Tuesday’s rally. As of Monday, June 5th rally sponsors included: Access Living, Alliance for Community Services, Anixter Center, The Arc of Illinois, Autism Speaks Illinois, BNICEH, Caring Across Generations, Chicago ADAPT, The Chicagoland Leadership Council, Communities United, Crosspoint Human Services, Ecker Center for Mental Health, Equip for Equality, Everthrive Illinois, Friends Who March, Health and Disability Advocates, Health and Medicine Policy Research Group, Healthcare Rights Coalition, Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living, IMPRUVE, Indivisible Chicago, IPADD UNITE, Legal Council for Health Justice, Mental Health Summit, Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Next Steps NFP, Planned Parenthood Illinois, Progress Center for Independent Living, Protect Our Care Illinois [coalition group], Supporting Illinois Brothers and Sisters (S.I.B.S.), Thresholds. The Chicago rally was one of seven rallies around the country, organized under the banner, “Don’t Cap My Care.” Thousands of advocates spoke out in support of strong Medicaid services that protect the lives of people with disabilities, keep them out of institutions, and allow them to live independently in integrated communities.