DWIHN Advocates to Protect Medicaid for Vulnerable Individuals Statewide
July 2, 2025
DWIHN Advocates to Protect Medicaid for Vulnerable Individuals Statewide
The bill, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, narrowly passed the Senate and is scheduled for consideration by the House of Representatives. The bill was approved yesterday in the House with a narrow 50/50 vote, with Vice President Vance casting the tie-breaking vote in favor. Now it is headed back to the house for approval Friday, July 4th. Recent changes to the bill would cut approximately $1.1 trillion in healthcare spending over the next decade, according to estimates from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. More than $1 trillion of those cuts would come from Medicaid. According to the State of Michigan, 1 in 4 Michiganders—more than 2.6 million people, rely on Medicaid for essential healthcare. If Congress implements these Medicaid cuts, Michigan could face:
• A loss of $2.2 billion in federal funding in 2026
• An economic impact of $4.9 billion
• 2.2B in federal funding in 2026
• 4.9B economic impact
• 2.9B drop in state GDP
Such cuts would mean fewer services for our children, seniors, and persons with disabilities.
What You Can Do:
Contact your local representatives and senators to urge them to oppose any Medicaid cuts and to support protections for these vital programs. Let them know how important Medicaid is for you, your family, and your community. Ask them to take action to ensure the bill does not pass in its current form.
Get Involved – Act Now: https://protectmicare.org/
In addition to the proposed policy changes, another barrier impacting Medicaid recipients in Michigan is the current income threshold. Currently, individuals with income above the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) of $1,325 per month must allocate around $375 of their income for living expenses, with the remainder going toward healthcare, before qualifying for Medicaid assistance. Michigan legislators are considering a “spend-down” proposal that would allow people to retain 100% of the FPL amount, easing this burden. (www.meji.org)
We know that affordable healthcare leads to better health outcomes, reduces hospitalizations, and lowers overall healthcare costs. Please join us in advocating for increased protections for Medicaid services and working with your legislators to set the spending threshold at 100% of the Federal Poverty Level. This adjustment would provide vital support to low-income individuals who struggle to access the healthcare they need. Together, we can protect Medicaid and ensure everyone has access to the healthcare they deserve.
Sincerely,
James E. White, President & CEO
Dr. Cynthia Taueg, Board Chair