As a nurse in Michigan, I witness the positive impact of Medicaid every single day. I’ve held the hands of patients who finally got the treatment they needed because of this program. I’ve seen families breathe easier knowing their loved ones could afford care. And I’ve watched what happens when access is delayed or denied — when people suffer needlessly because the system fails them and they don’t receive the preventative care they need.

That’s why I’m deeply concerned by the proposals in Congress that would cut Medicaid funding. These cuts would devastate our hospitals, threaten healthcare jobs, and most importantly, endanger the well-being of millions of people across Michigan.

More than 2.6 million Michiganders — that’s 1 in 4 of us — receive healthcare coverage from Medicaid. It covers nearly one million children, almost half of all births in our state, and countless seniors, veterans and people with disabilities. Medicaid pays for long-term care, mental health treatment, substance use services and care that many families simply couldn’t afford otherwise. I’ve seen Medicaid help cancer patients receive treatment, support aging parents in nursing homes and allow people with disabilities to live full, independent lives.

I can’t imagine providing care for the community without it.

And it’s more than just those with Medicaid coverage who rely on it. Medicaid keeps hospitals running, especially in rural and underserved communities. It ensures we’re staffed, equipped and able to provide care to EVERYONE. Healthcare is the largest private-sector employer in Michigan, and Medicaid plays a central role in sustaining those essential jobs, including mine.

Michigan’s Medicaid expansion, known as the Healthy Michigan Plan, has been a game changer. It’s brought in more $1 billion in federal funding, improved access to care and reduced our uninsured rate.

It has also saved rural hospitals from closure and enabled our healthcare system to better meet the needs of every community.

But now, Congress is considering proposals to slash Medicaid by up to $880 billion over the next decade. If passed, Michigan could lose billions in federal funding — $2.2 billion in the first year alone. That could mean closing hospital services or entire facilities, laying off healthcare workers and leaving families with nowhere to turn. When a hospital stops delivering services, those services are lost for everyone and not just those with Medicaid coverage.

These aren’t abstract numbers on a spreadsheet. These are real people — our patients, our neighbors and our friends. The mom struggling to get her teenager into mental health treatment. The veteran who needs care for PTSD close to home. The grandparent who just wants to age with dignity and support.

A mom with private insurance can’t deliver her baby in a town that no longer has a maternity ward. A senior on Medicare can’t stay in a nursing home that was forced to shut down due to lost funding. This is about protecting care for all of us.

Healthcare is not a luxury. It’s a basic human need. From the beginning of life to the end, we’ll all require healthcare throughout our journey on Earth. And Medicaid is one of the most powerful tools we have to deliver it.

Congress should not gamble with our healthcare. I urge Michigan’s congressional delegation to reject any proposal that cuts or caps Medicaid. Let’s protect our patients, support our healthcare workers and keep Michigan’s hospitals and clinics strong.

Medicaid is more than a line item in a budget. It’s a reflection of who we are and what we value. Protect Michigan families. Protect our healthcare system. Protect MI Care.

Tricia Haener is the Chief Nursing Officer for McLaren Macomb, a 288-bed acute care hospital in Mount Clemens. Tricia has nearly 20 years’ experience in nursing, from Emergency Rooms to Operating Rooms. She is deeply involved in ensuring the community has access to the care they need, with a passion for mental health services and serving victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking.