Whoever replaces Alex Azar should take a team and set up shop at these types of free medical events in poor areas of the country and explain to these folks that us Democrats are trying our hardest to make sure that they and their families are able to get decent healthcare but are being stymied by their local Repukes. We let them paint us as coming to take their guns, force them to have abortions, and ending Christmas--when in reality the Repukes take them for granted and allow this squalor to continue.
The central Appalachian area that includes eastern Kentucky, southern West Virginia and western Virginia has long been one of the sickest and poorest regions in the country. More recently, it has been ravaged by the decline of coal mining.
But Virginia was among 19 states that chose not to expand Medicaid as part of the Affordable Care Act. Many states cited the cost, even though Washington pledged to pick up nearly the entire expense. An expansion in Virginia would have covered an additional 400,000 people.
Kantsos voted for Donald Trump last fall in the hope that he could shake up Washington. She said the president needs to concentrate more on his job and less on Twitter.
Sutherland supported Trump, too, and said he thinks the president deserves more time. But Sutherland, who comes to the clinic for dental work and medicine, wishes lawmakers understood how hard life can be in Appalachia. Last year, he said, he walked 30 miles (50 kilometers) to the Wise clinic because he had no car; it took more than seven hours. Others have it bad, too.
[link:
https://apnews.com/article/865c6779fa90457bbb6cb62dc4d54e73|