The human cost of Congress' inaction on health care

President Donald Trump and the Republicans in Congress have a decision to make: They can step up to protect millions of people, providing the security and dignity that comes from being cared for when sick or injured, or they can keep holding our health care hostage and leave a body count.

- 

How do I know? I've spent more than two decades in an emergency room on the South Side of Chicago, caring for people whose suffering stems from political choices in Washington, DC, according to the Tribune News Service.

So when I read about the government shutdown and Republicans cutting Medicaid to pay for tax cuts, I don’t just see the headlines about health insurance and food; I see people.

I see the face of the woman who came in unable to breathe because she'd been rationing her blood pressure medication to make it through the month. The young man whose blood sugar is out of control because his medication cost him more than a week's pay. The mother who waited too long to get a lump checked because she couldn't figure out where she could access affordable care, only to show up when it was too late.