In the February edition of the journal Family Medicine, the following data was reported: “In the 22 states that opted not to expand Medicaid … it is estimated that 7,115 to 17,104 unnecessary deaths can be attributed to the lack of Medicaid expansion.”
This is truly not a surprise to me as a health care provider. It saddens me greatly to see the citizens of our state suffer unnecessarily as a result of a lack of health insurance.
In the family medicine practice for underserved patients where I work and teach residents and students, I witness the validity of this data on an ongoing basis. I believe that we, the people of Maine, need to be a lot more vocal about saving the lives of our own co-workers, neighbors, patients, friends and family. These are the people referred to above whose deaths could have been avoided.
I ask you to join me and many others in health care to advocate for a change in position by our governor. If we choose to be silent, we are part of the problem, not the solution.
Deborah Taylor
Portland
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