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Orange County board adopts resolution urging congressional opposition to proposed federal Medicaid cuts
Summary
The Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution asking the county's congressional delegation to oppose proposed federal cuts to Medicaid (Medi‑Cal), citing potential harm to more than 1 million county residents and to local health providers.
The Orange County Board of Supervisors on May 6 adopted a resolution urging the county's U.S. congressional delegation to oppose proposed federal cuts to Medicaid, known in California as Medi‑Cal, saying the changes risked coverage losses for more than 1 million county residents and funding shortfalls for local providers.
The resolution, introduced by Vice Chair Doug Chaffee, also called on members of the county's delegation to "fight vigorously in this effort to ensure adequate funding of Medi‑Cal for our residents." Chaffee moved the item with several clerical corrections to dollar and clinic counts; the board approved the amended resolution by a 3‑in‑favor, 1‑abstention vote.
Supporters who addressed the board during a public comment period described the program as a lifeline. "Please pass this resolution today and stand up for the health and dignity of every resident in Orange County," said Chris Noble, organizing director with Health Access California, who told the board that "over 1,000,000 people here in Orange County rely on Medi‑Cal to live healthy lives." Jessica Magdaleno, president of the Orange County Childcare Association, and other advocates emphasized that cuts would affect families, seniors, people with disabilities and the local health economy.
Health care workers and local providers also warned of operational impacts. "Cuts to Medicaid won't just disrupt one program or another," said Tanya Ferrucci, an IHSS provider. "You cut caregivers, you cut meals, you cut medication." Brandon Marche, CEO of the Orange County Medical Association, told the board that reduced federal funding and enrollment would funnel more patients to emergency rooms and could lead to staff layoffs and service reductions.
Board members pressed for strong language and added whereas clauses during debate. Supervisor Katrina Foley said she supported the motion and urged the board to push the county's congressional representatives to be "loud" and vocal, not merely promise opposition. Supervisor Doug Chaffee accepted edits that corrected the annual federal funding figure referenced in the resolution and updated the number of federally qualified health centers in the county.
The resolution listed potential harms cited by speakers and supervisors, including increased uncompensated care costs to hospitals and clinics, the risk that work requirements or other policy changes could remove coverage for expansion populations, and negative downstream effects such as higher long‑term costs from avoidable hospitalizations.
The board’s vote was recorded as three in favor and one abstention. The motion text and final tally were read into the record; staff said two technical corrections applied to an earlier draft: the correct estimate of annual Medi‑Cal funding flowing into Orange County is $12,440,000,000, and the county has "more than 18" federally qualified health centers dependent on Medi‑Cal revenue.
The resolution is nonbinding; it requests that the board send a letter to the Orange County congressional delegation expressing opposition to federal Medicaid cuts and urging protection of county Medi‑Cal funding.
