Sykes uses Akron health center to illustrate fears over looming federal budget cuts
AKRON – U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes used a Planned Parenthood affiliate in her district on Monday to illustrate how looming federal budget cuts will impact health care for vulnerable constituents.
Sykes met with employees and toured the Akron Health Center and PPRx pharmacy amid federal budget cuts that threaten the organization’s ability to provide care.
Sykes warned that the provision in Republicans’ sweeping “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” stripping the organization of Medicaid funding would create ripple effects throughout Ohio’s 13th congressional district, forcing her most vulnerable constituents to seek more expensive healthcare or go without treatment entirely.
There have been efforts made by GOP lawmakers and anti-abortion groups for years to exclude Planned Parenthood clinics from participating in the Medicaid program for providing abortion services. Despite the fact that federal funds cannot be used to pay for abortion services outside of cases of rape, incest, and life endangerment, GOP critics have argued that the money is fungible.
Sykes’ explained that Planned Parenthood provides essential services in her district, which also faces high infant mortality rates.
“Where will these folks go? Just because the federal government made a decision to refuse to reimburse Planned Parenthood for the services, does not mean that people stop needing the services,” she said.
In an interview with Cleveland.com, Sykes also took aim at her Republican colleagues, saying that she has repeatedly urged them to consider the human impacts of the cuts but said that her warnings have largely fallen on deaf ears.
“I would say to them, if you truly cared about life, you would make sure that you protected the lives of every person in this country,” said Sykes.
The Big Beautiful bill seeks to “defund” Planned Parenthood by banning Medicaid patients from using their insurance there. Planned Parenthood provides access to birth control, cancer screenings, STI testing, and other preventive care. While that restriction is currently held up in federal court, healthcare providers are already making difficult decisions.
Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio recently announced that they will need to make workforce reductions after losing Title X funding and facing projected Medicaid losses.
“A $10 million loss in funding is just not sustainable,” said Erica Wilson-Domer, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio.
Wilson-Domer said the organization is currently in effects bargaining with its union regarding the layoffs.
Unionized members of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio have asked the organization’s executives take a 25% pay cut to ensure that frontline staff stays on the job.
Wilson-Domer said the organization plans “to keep as many doors open as possible,” except for a Cleveland center that has already closed.
Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio operates 12 health centers and two surgical centers throughout the state. More than 50,000 Northeast Ohioans could lose access to affordable reproductive and preventive health services because of the funding losses, according to the organization.
Sykes said the federal funding cuts extend beyond access to affordable healthcare. The possible job losses threaten the livelihoods of many in a district where the healthcare industry is one of the largest employers.
Should those workers need to seek assistance whilst unemployed, Sykes feared that the federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, could exacerbate an already difficult situation.
“Not only are we talking about the patients, we’re talking about individuals who no longer have a job, who are not going to be employed, who then may also need those services like SNAP, like Medicaid, that are also on the chopping block.”
Moving forward, Sykes said her mission now is to educate her constituents about what the sweeping federal budget cuts mean for them. She noted that many provisions were “very purposely” written so that they won’t take effect until after the midterm elections, but some effects are already being felt.
Sykes pointed to recent developments in Canton, where Altcare removed about 6,000 people from Affordable Care Act subsidies due to related legislative changes as a preview of what’s to come.
“That is not going to be unusual or rare,” Sykes said.
By: Mary Frances McGowan
Source: Cleveland.com