Proposed cuts to Medicaid could affect 1.2 million Coloradans – including children, senior citizens, and people with disabilities. It will devastate families across the state and harm our rural health centers and hospitals. We cannot allow this to happen.https://t.co/lh5L3TKhvp
— Michael Bennet (@SenatorBennet) March 29, 2025
The proposed $880 billion cuts to Medicaid funding over the next decade have raised concerns among healthcare providers, lawmakers, and advocates. At a roundtable event held at Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth, panelists discussed the potential impacts of these cuts on patients and the healthcare system.
House Budget Committee Chairman Rep.
"This isn’t about politics, it’s about people. If we don’t fight for rural healthcare, who will? It's time for [legislators] to actually listen to what people are saying: These Medicaid cuts are wrong." https://t.co/HIbPfmL2Py
— AFT (@AFTunion) March 31, 2025
Jodey Arrington, a Republican from Texas, stated that the proposed cuts aim to address the $2 trillion annual debt, which is expected to double over the next decade. However, Minnesota could face a loss of up to $1.6 billion annually if the Medicaid reductions are enacted.
Medicaid, known as Medical Assistance in Minnesota, provides coverage to 1.3 million residents for various healthcare services.
MAGA Republicans are coming after Medicaid.
Your health care. Rural hospitals. SNAP benefits. All at risk just so they can cut taxes for the ultra-wealthy. https://t.co/EAP2KZyxuq
— John Hickenlooper (@Hickenlooper) March 29, 2025
At Essentia Health in Duluth, approximately 15%-18% of monthly patients rely on Medicaid, and over 60% of the health system’s patients are covered by government insurance programs. Panelists highlighted several key concerns, including rising insurance premiums, increased medical debt, and longer wait times for patients to receive care.
Medicaid cuts and community impact
They also noted additional pressures on healthcare providers in Minnesota, such as increased medical supply costs due to tariffs and staffing challenges at nursing homes and home health companies. St.
Louis County is closely monitoring the budget situation, as Medicaid accounts for $764 million in annual county expenditures. The proposed cuts could significantly impact services such as prenatal family home visits, care coordination for seniors, and disability programs. Medicaid also plays a crucial role in financing substance use disorder treatments and mental health care in Minnesota.
Cuts to the program could lead to further closures or reductions in staff at healthcare facilities, making it difficult to maintain current healthcare standards in more northern and smaller communities. John Connolly, state Medicaid director and deputy commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Human Services, warned that reducing Medicaid investments poses significant challenges to providers and the broader local economy. Cuts to Medicare can lead to job losses, especially in rural areas where the healthcare industry is a major employer.
To maintain current healthcare standards amid Medicaid cuts, the state government might need to increase taxes or cut other programs. The proposed cuts could create an unstable healthcare market, making healthcare more expensive and uncertain for Minnesotans.
