Proposed Medicaid cuts in U.S. Senate may risk care for Chicagoland residents

CHICAGO – The U.S. Senate is considering a bill that would call for major cuts to Medicaid, and local healthcare providers are warning the move could cut off care for many across Chicagoland.

Humboldt Park Health, a safety net hospital that serves the most vulnerable populations, could be at risk.

“The message is clear. Medicaid saves lives, reduces mortality rates and prevents catastrophic financial rulings for families,” Dr. Dagoberto Camacho, Chief Medical Officer of Humboldt Park Health, said.

Eighty percent of the hospital’s patients rely on Medicaid.

“This is a critical time in our history and time. We need to raise our voices to make sure we push back, we fight back,” Humboldt Park Health CEO Jose Sanchez said.

Hospital administrators joined Illinois congressmen, state and local lawmakers in seeking to bring attention to what they consider a potential crisis.

Seventy-two million Americans are enrolled in the government program that provides health insurance for lower income adults and children; 3.5 million of them are Illinois residents.

A proposed 25% cut in Medicaid funding is in the Republican budget resolution. It narrowly passed in the House late Tuesday.

“This is the first important step in opening up the reconciliation process. We have a lot of hard work ahead of us, but we are going to deliver the America first agenda,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) said.

Opponents urged constituents to contact Republican senators to voice their concerns.

“Ultimately, it’s going to be seniors, it’s going to be children, it’s going to be our communities going to feel the worst,” Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Illinois) said.

The fate of the measure in its current form is uncertain in the Senate.