Children’s MN Takes to Capitol Hill: Children’s Hospital Association Speak Now For Kids Advocacy Day

Written by Kelly Wolfe

Earlier this month, Children’s Minnesota participated in the Children’s Hospital Association Speak Now For Kids Family Advocacy Day. Joining over fifty families from across the country, Jim and Allison Barosko, along with their nine-year old sons, Evan and Jack, took to Capitol Hill to meet with members of Minnesota’s congressional delegation and talk about the importance of Medicaid funding for kids.

The timing couldn’t have been better. With the Senate originally scheduled to vote on a health care bill just days after the event, all eyes were on D.C. as people awaited the fate of a possible Affordable Care Act repeal and replace effort. Due to proposals with harmful cuts in Medicaid funding and changes in pediatric health care coverage and benefits, Children’s Minnesota and the Children’s Hospital Association have been advocating to protect Medicaid and access to pediatric services. There are no better advocates than the children and families that depend on Medicaid and a strong and reliable health care system to protect them.

After a long day of meetings, there was still plenty of time left for the Barosko’s to take advantage of the rest of the wonderful sights Washington D.C. has to offer. Below is a snapshot of our lobbyists in training!

Kelly Wolfe is public policy director of advocacy and child health policy at Children’s Minnesota