Lawmakers and experts warn H.R. 1 would cut coverage, increase uncompensated care and undercut access to digital health benefits

Republican‑led budget reconciliation proposals discussed during a House health subcommittee hearing were criticized by members and an academic witness as likely to cause large coverage losses, reduce provider revenues and impede patient access to digital health tools.

Sabrina Corlette, research professor and co‑director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University, told the panel that the bill "would actually make it harder for people to obtain health care, tying them up in a maze of bureaucracy, raising their premiums, and imposing new federal mandates." Corlette testified that a $1,000,000,000,000 reduction in health‑care program spending would significantly increase uninsurance.

Representative Lloyd Doggett (referred to in the hearing as Representative Doggett) warned that the reconciliation package would trigger statutory PAYGO sequestration and described a projected Medicare reduction he said would be "$500,000,000,000 cut beginning on October 1," a point he raised during his opening remarks.

Why it matters: Several members said that cutting coverage, reducing provider payments and increasing uncompensated care will blunt the practical benefits of digital health technologies, which require clinician access and continuity of care to be effective.

Key figures cited in the hearing (as stated to the committee) - Coverage losses: Multiple members repeated a figure that roughly 16,000,000 people could lose coverage under the proposed changes and the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits. Corlette and others said many of those affected are currently eligible for coverage but would be disconnected by new requirements and paperwork. - Provider revenue and uncompensated care: Corlette cited analyses projecting roughly $1,030,000,000,000 in reduced provider revenue over a 10‑year window and a $278,000,000,000 increase in uncompensated care costs; members referenced a University of North Carolina analysis that estimated about 300 rural hospitals could be at risk of closure or service reduction. - Medicare sequestration: Representative Doggett and others raised statutory PAYGO concerns and cited projected cuts beginning in October that would reduce provider payments annually in the committee's view.

Member concerns about downstream effects Lawmakers said these cuts would make it harder for patients to afford devices or follow‑up care even if wearables become cheaper, and that increased uncompensated care would shift costs to commercially insured populations and hospitals. Multiple representatives said they would submit materials for the hearing record and pressed witnesses on how payment and coverage policy affects the ability of rural and low‑income patients to benefit from digital health.

Ending The witness panel urged targeted policy action — preserving research funding, modernizing Medicare coverage pathways for digital tools and clarifying reimbursement for RPM — and warned Congress that scaling digital health depends on maintaining access to care and stable provider funding.