Advocacy Issue: Medicaid

The Medicaid program is the largest single source of health care coverage in the United States, covering nearly half of all children, many low-income elderly and disabled individuals, and working adults in low-wage jobs. With the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L. 119-21), Congress made policy changes that will reduce federal spending for the Medicaid program by hundreds of billions of dollars over the next 10 years. More information on provisions of the OBBBA and related resources are available here.

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Medicaid: Real Lives, Real Care

Karen Cabell, D.O., chief physician executive at Kootenai Health, shares how Medicaid is a lifeline for many people, and how cuts to the program could destabilize families and communities.

In Maine, one third of the population relies on Medicaid. Michael Nozdrovicky, senior director of academic affairs and workforce development for nursing and Allied Health, explains how Medicaid cuts would cause patients to defer care, and force hospitals to make tough decisions around decreasing staffing and services.

In Alaska, 41% of Medicaid recipients are children. Carrie Peluso, DNP, APRN, chief nursing officer at Providence Alaska, warns of the devastating impacts potential Medicaid cuts will have on Alaskans and the hospitals that serve them. As a childhood Medicaid recipient herself, Carrie emphasizes how anyone could find themselves in need of essential Medicaid support.

Medicaid cuts could have devastating impacts on rural communities, particularly for behavioral health care access. Jon Ulven, Ph.D., psychologist and chair of adult psychology at Sanford Health, details how Medicaid cuts could reduce access, and worsen outcomes for those with substance use issues.

Medicaid plays a critical role in maternal care in West Virginia. Melissa Fannon-Wisner, DNP, FNP-C, nurse educator and nurse practitioner at Winchester Medical Center, Valley Health, explains how Medicaid cuts could limit access to new mothers, simply because they can't afford the care.

View all Medicaid: Real Lives, Real Care Videos >

Key Resources

Customizable Resources

The AHA has created customizable assets for hospitals and individuals to use on social media. Each asset allows members to input their logos, data or state-specific information on the Medicaid program. There are a few ways to access the AHA assets and customize them to your needs:

Access via the online tool Canva and customize the graphics in the Canva editing window.
Download assets from Google Drive and customize using Google or Microsoft Office products.
Click to post premade content and save time!