WEBVTT X-TIMESTAMP-MAP=LOCAL:00:00:00.000,MPEGTS:270000 00:00:00.040 --> 00:00:05.210 I'm a family physician, practicing in Lansing, Michigan, and the CEO of a nonprofit 00:00:05.220 --> 00:00:10.180 carefree medical, which provides medical, dental and optometry care, to low 00:00:10.180 --> 00:00:15.810 income, underinsured and uninsured individuals. Most of my patients are Medicaid 00:00:15.810 --> 00:00:21.400 recipients, men and women who work two, sometimes three jobs. Because Michigan 00:00:21.400 --> 00:00:28.540 expanded Medicaid in 2014 under the Affordable Care Act, more than 750,000 Michiganders 00:00:28.540 --> 00:00:32.880 can now get the treatment they need. There are countless stories for my daily 00:00:32.880 --> 00:00:38.800 work I could present, but I will share just two. The first is a middle aged male 00:00:38.800 --> 00:00:43.710 who had a long history of uncontrolled diabetes and who recently acquired Medicaid. 00:00:43.720 --> 00:00:49.380 Because of the ACA I was able to start him on an intensive insulin regimen, and 00:00:49.380 --> 00:00:54.270 within four months his blood sugar dropped more than 200 points. The blurred 00:00:54.270 --> 00:00:59.260 vision he was experiencing significantly improved, his kidney function improved 00:00:59.390 --> 00:01:06.510 and he was able to find a job. The ACA literally saved this man's life. Another 00:01:06.510 --> 00:01:11.080 story I'd like to share involves a patient with bipolar disorder who was doing 00:01:11.090 --> 00:01:16.680 well. And was stable and healthy until she lost her job and her health insurance 00:01:16.690 --> 00:01:21.660 do the covid 19. I had been prescribing a medication that worked wonders to keep 00:01:21.660 --> 00:01:27.310 her mood stable. But without insurance, that medication costs more than $1200 00:01:27.320 --> 00:01:32.450 per month, which she simply couldn't afford. She developed a severe depressive 00:01:32.450 --> 00:01:37.510 episode her energy and motivation vanished. She gained significant weight 00:01:37.520 --> 00:01:42.520 because of the side effects of the older generic medications, she had uncontrollable 00:01:42.520 --> 00:01:48.650 crying spells, and she experienced suicidal ideation. Thanks to Michigan's 00:01:48.650 --> 00:01:54.000 expansion of Medicaid, as allowed under the ACA, my patients, suffering ended because 00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:58.330 we eventually got her enrolled into Medicaid. She can once again contribute 00:01:58.330 --> 00:02:03.460 to the economy and support herself financially. These are just a fraction of 00:02:03.460 --> 00:02:08.420 the many positive outcomes of the ACA I have witnessed over the years. Simply 00:02:08.420 --> 00:02:15.360 put as a frontline doctor eye witness every day how the ACA has improved is improving 00:02:15.370 --> 00:02:20.270 and will continue to improve the lives of ordinary, hard working people. During 00:02:20.270 --> 00:02:26.360 a pandemic that continues to kill 1000 Americans each day. People need the ACA 00:02:26.370 --> 00:02:32.020 and the freedom it provides now more than ever. Without the ACA, insurance companies 00:02:32.020 --> 00:02:36.340 would be able to discriminate against a new generation of people with covid, 00:02:36.340 --> 00:02:41.440 19 related pre existing conditions and anyone with a pre existing condition 00:02:41.770 --> 00:02:47.620 by refusing to cover them or by raising costs. As a family doctor who cares deeply 00:02:47.620 --> 00:02:52.410 about my patients. I'm grateful to be here today to advocate for them and for all 00:02:52.410 --> 00:02:56.850 patients in our great nation. And I'm here to urge against striking down this 00:02:56.850 --> 00:03:01.120 lifesaving call or confirming to the Supreme Court anyone who would seek to 00:03:01.120 --> 00:03:01.750 do so.