People with disabilities who rely on Medicaid say federal cuts could disrupt essential services

Kingia Randall with her sister Valarie White, who struggles with severe arthritis, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other health issues. White relies on Georgia Medicaid’s family caregiver homecare services provided by Randall five days per week. (Jess Mador/WABE)

At her small, subsidized apartment west of downtown Atlanta, Valarie White rests on the couch. Her arthritis makes it difficult for her to do the things she used to do for herself. The 60-year old says she’d be lost without her sister’s help at home.

“Because now, with this arthritis, it’s hard to open up my medicine bottles. She fixes my medicines up for me because my hand is not working right right now,” White says. “This arthritis is killing me so bad.”

White also has schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.