Original article by John Cox, The Bakersfield Californian, Fri, October 31, 2025, at 6:00 PM PDT
In response to federal legislation that enacted the largest health care cuts in U.S. history, Clinica Sierra Vista providers joined 125 Kern County health care professionals on Friday, October 31st, for an urgent call to action: enroll, renew, and utilize Medi-Cal before the December 31st deadline.
The Health For Kern press conference, held outside Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance at 615 California Ave., brought together healthcare experts from across the county to address the impacts of federal cuts totaling $1 trillion to Medicaid—California’s Medi-Cal program.
“This is an all-hands-on-deck moment for Kern County, California, and the entire nation,” said Reyna Olaguez, president and CEO of Building Healthy Communities Kern. “Medi-Cal is a lifeline for more than one-third of Californians and up to two-thirds in Kern.”
Clinica Sierra Vista’s Dr. Yunior Martinez-Duenas and Nurse Practitioner Javier Hernandez emphasized the importance of not only reenrolling but maximizing coverage benefits. “We’re encouraging our existing Medi-Cal beneficiaries to make the most of their coverage,” said Hernandez, highlighting preventive care, including flu vaccinations, mammogram screenings, and regular health checkups. Dr. Martinez-Duenas stressed that early detection of medical conditions leads to better outcomes and recommended annual doctor visits even when feeling healthy.
The Health For Kern coalition (#Health4Kern) is planning outreach events in rural Kern County throughout November and December to help residents enroll and renew their coverage.
Click here to read the full story in The Bakersfield Californian
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