Medicaid is essential to children’s health. Let’s protect it.

The news is filled with opinions about Medicaid, but here is an undeniable fact: At the healthcare provider I lead — Nemours Children’s Hospital in Wilmington — nearly half the children we care for rely on Medicaid. Across our Southeastern Pennsylvania locations, approximately 40% of our specialty care patients and 25% of our primary care patients have Medicaid coverage.

Every day, we see how this essential program ensures children get the medical care they need to grow, learn, and thrive — regardless of their family’s income or zip code.

It is crucial that both Congress and members of the general public realize Medicaid is more than a safety net. It is health coverage for the most vulnerable in our communities — especially children.

Consider Violet’s story. When she was 6 months old, she wasn’t meeting developmental milestones, prompting her pediatrician to refer her to a “Birth to Three” early intervention program.

Weekly physical therapy began, but progress was slow. Genetic testing and neurology referrals were recommended, and Violet’s family was advised to apply for Medicaid to help cover the high costs of care.

Medicaid is more than a safety net. It is health coverage for the most vulnerable in our communities — especially children.

Violet was ultimately diagnosed with cerebral palsy due to congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV), a condition that affects movement and posture. She was able to enroll in a specialized medical daycare where she receives physical, occupational, and speech therapy multiple times a week.

These intensive services, all covered by Medicaid, are essential for her development. Without this coverage, Violet would have had to attend a traditional daycare — an environment that simply wouldn’t meet her needs.

Her mother would have had to take significant time off work to transport her to therapy appointments, or even leave her job entirely. Medicaid provided access to the care Violet needs without sacrificing her family’s financial stability.

Today, at 2 years old, Violet cannot sit independently or walk, but she communicates through gestures and expressions, and her family is filled with hope for her future.

This is what Medicaid makes possible.

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed “budget reconciliation” legislation that will impact Medicaid’s future. Changes to Medicaid could limit access to necessary healthcare, leading to poorer outcomes and increased economic hardship for children and families.

» READ MORE: Medicaid helped my brother live a life of dignity after he was shot. Others deserve that help, too. | Opinion

As the Senate crafts its version of the package, I urge lawmakers across the nation to continue supporting this essential program.

Nationally, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) cover nearly 80 million people, including more than 37 million children.

Medicaid covers more than 40% of all births in the U.S., and provides coverage for more than 45% of children with special healthcare needs through Medicaid coverage alone or a combination of Medicaid and private coverage.

In Pennsylvania, more than 1.4 million children are covered by Medicaid and CHIP. Medicaid also covers 35% of births in the state, and 55% of children and youth with special healthcare needs through Medicaid coverage alone or a combination of Medicaid and private coverage.

Without Medicaid, many children would otherwise go without the care, support, and services they need.

These numbers are more than statistics. They represent children receiving chemotherapy, managing chronic conditions, recovering from surgery, or simply getting a well-child checkup.

Medicaid supports prenatal, maternity, and postpartum care for families and helps provide access to mental health services. Medicaid allows hospitals and clinics to continue offering high-quality care in underserved and rural areas, where other insurance options may be limited or nonexistent.

During economic downturns, Medicaid becomes even more vital. Families who lose private insurance rely on it for continuity of care. Others with private insurance depend on Medicaid for family members with complex medical cases that exceed their coverage.

Protecting Medicaid is not just a policy decision — it’s a commitment to the health and well-being of our next generation.

Mark R. Marcantano is the president of the Delaware Valley division of the Nemours Children’s Health System.