Medicaid Cuts & Preventable Deaths: New Report
- proposed Medicaid budget cuts being considered in Congress, including those in the House reconciliation bill advanced in May, could have significant consequences for millions of Americans, according to...
- Researchers, led by adam gaffney, MD, MPH, analyzed six potential Medicaid cuts that the House budget Committee estimates would each reduce federal Medicaid outlays by at least $100...
- The study also assessed the overall effects of the current House bill,which incorporates three of the six options,along with other policy changes such as shortening the duration of...
A new study paints a grim picture: proposed medicaid cuts could trigger over 16,500 preventable deaths annually. This alarming projection highlights the potential impact of these cuts on healthcare access, potentially leaving millions without vital insurance coverage. The research, featured on News Directory 3, examines the far-reaching consequences of budget adjustments, revealing how cuts designed to offset other policy changes could disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. The analysis dives into specific areas, including the potential for increased uninsurance rates adn the number of people forgoing essential medical care. Discover what’s next as the debate continues regarding healthcare access.
Medicaid Cuts Could Lead to Over 16,500 Preventable Deaths Annually
Updated June 17, 2025
proposed Medicaid budget cuts being considered in Congress, including those in the House reconciliation bill advanced in May, could have significant consequences for millions of Americans, according to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.The study estimates the potential effects on Medicaid enrollment, uninsurance rates, financial strain, healthcare access, and overall health outcomes.
Researchers, led by adam gaffney, MD, MPH, analyzed six potential Medicaid cuts that the House budget Committee estimates would each reduce federal Medicaid outlays by at least $100 billion over 10 years. These include reducing the Medicaid matching floor, reduced funding of the ACA Medicaid Expansion, Medicaid per capita caps, Medicaid work requirements, reduced medicaid provider taxes, and repealing the Biden-era Medicaid eligibility rule.
The study also assessed the overall effects of the current House bill,which incorporates three of the six options,along with other policy changes such as shortening the duration of Medicaid’s retroactive coverage and increasing cost-sharing for some enrollees.
The researchers project that each of the six individual Medicaid cuts could lead to an annual increase of between 651 and 12,626 medically preventable deaths. These cuts could also increase the number of uninsured individuals by 600,000 to 3,900,000, and the annual number of people forgoing needed medical care by 129,060 to 838,890.
If the current house bill is enacted, the number of uninsured would rise by an estimated 7.6 million, researchers found. The study also projects that 1.9 million people could lose their personal doctor,1.3 million might forgo needed medications, 380,270 women could go without a mammogram, and 16,642 preventable deaths could occur.
The authors caution that while these cuts are intended to offset tax cuts, they would also strip care from millions of low-income Americans and potentially lead to thousands of medically preventable deaths.
They argue that policymakers should carefully consider the likely health and financial harms to patients and providers resulting from reduced Medicaid expenditures, especially in light of the fact that the tax reductions would primarily benefit wealthier Americans.
What’s next
The study highlights the potential consequences of proposed Medicaid cuts,prompting further debate among policymakers and healthcare advocates. Future discussions will likely focus on balancing budget constraints with the need to ensure access to healthcare for vulnerable populations.