Health Care Crisis Looms as H.R. 1 Cuts Leave Millions Uninsured
More Americans are losing health insurance due to cuts from H.R. 1, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Dr. Elaine Batchlor, CEO of MLK Community Hospital in Los Angeles, estimates her hospital will lose between $80-$100 million a year because of these changes. The hospital serves low-income neighborhoods and is expected to see more uninsured patients.
H.R. 1 makes it harder for people to stay on Medicaid by introducing work requirements and requiring re-confirmation of income every six months. This, combined with reduced state funding for hospitals through the Medicaid program, will have a ripple effect throughout the health care system.
As more people lose insurance, they may delay or forgo primary care, checkups, and other preventative measures. If they get a serious illness, they could be saddled with hundreds of thousands of dollars in bills. This, in turn, will increase costs for hospitals and medical systems, leading to longer wait times, fewer services, and higher costs for everyone.