Thousands could lose insurance under Medicaid cuts
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Roughly 25,000 Allegheny County residents could lose their health insurance under proposed federal Medicaid cuts, county leaders estimate.
Why it matters: The reductions, part of President Trump's "big, beautiful bill," could close clinics, disrupt services, and hit vulnerable populations like kids, seniors and new moms hardest, studies show.
Catch up quick: The U.S. House narrowly passed a reconciliation bill in May, proposing nearly $800 billion in Medicaid cuts over the next decade, introducing stricter eligibility checks and work requirements.
By the numbers: Nearly 250,000 Allegheny County residents rely on Medicaid, 39% of whom are children, says Alex Jutca, director of the county Department of Human Services' Office of Analytics, Technology and Planning.
The big picture: Jutca said Medicaid covers crucial care — from trauma therapy and pediatric visits for foster children to daily assistance for older adults.
- 10% of Medicaid recipients could lose coverage, he said at a news conference with Democratic lawmakers last week.
- Costs to cover the uninsured would likely shift to other county funds, forcing "very hard tradeoffs," he added.
Threat level: Federally qualified health centers, like East Liberty Family Health Care Center, face significant threats from proposed cuts, CEO Arsenial Runion said.
- These centers provide care regardless of patients' ability to pay, serving those enrolled in Medicaid and PENNIE, the state's Affordable Care Act marketplace.
- More than 30% of the center's patients rely on Medicaid, he said, and cuts would likely force clinic closures and staff layoffs.
What they're saying: Maggie Brown, a postpartum nurse at West Penn Hospital, tells Axios that nearly one-third of pregnant patients in Allegheny County depend on Medicaid, with an even higher percentage among those needing neonatal intensive care.
- She says the cuts would be "devastating" to the patients she sees daily.
Zoom out: More than 300,000 Pennsylvanians could lose coverage under the plan, per the state's Department of Human Services.
The other side: Republican lawmakers who support the measure argue it would trim billions in federal spending by ensuring only eligible individuals receive insurance coverage, Axios' Avery Lotz reports.
What's next: The U.S. Senate's reconciliation bill proposes deeper cuts to Medicaid, but some Republicans are resisting — warning the plan won't clear the House. The Senate hopes to pass the bill by pass the bill by July 4.
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune expects to start voting Friday, he told Axios in an exclusive interview.