Mass. leaders warn proposed federal cuts to Medicaid would hit MassHealth, hospitals and seniors

Revere — Governor Maura Healey, U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey, state Sen. Lydia Edwards and local officials warned at a Cambridge Health Alliance event that a House-passed budget package containing deep Medicaid reductions would cut access to care in Massachusetts and drive up costs for patients and providers.

The gathering brought together state leaders, federal lawmakers and community health officials to describe concrete local effects if congressional cuts proceed and to urge public advocacy. Organizers said the changes would affect MassHealth enrollees, community health centers, nursing homes and hospitals across the Commonwealth.

“If this cut goes through, a quarter of a million people in Massachusetts will lose their health care coverage,” Governor Maura Healey said, calling the House package “a blunt force act” that would “hurt people, and people will die.” She urged residents to contact federal lawmakers and the White House to oppose the proposal.

Senator Elizabeth Warren said the House measure would “cut Medicaid, gut the Affordable Care Act, and slash food assistance,” and said the bill would remove coverage from millions nationwide and hundreds of thousands in Massachusetts. “Billionaires win. Everyone else loses,” she said, arguing the package would transfer wealth to the richest Americans.

Senator Edward J. Markey framed the fight as historic and legislative, citing proposed national-level numbers discussed at the event: “Republicans want to slash $762,000,000,000 from Medicaid. They want to cut $500,000,000,000 from Medicare,” he said, and pledged continued Senate opposition. The speakers noted the House measure could still change in the Senate and, if amended and passed, would return to the House.

Healthcare leaders described likely local consequences. “We offer more than 800,000 outpatient visits annually, and 38,000 of them occur here in Revere,” Jill Batty, chief financial officer of Cambridge Health Alliance, said. She warned that the House reconciliation language would “fundamentally erode Medicaid” and could lead providers to reduce services, close sites or lay off staff, increasing uninsured patients and barriers to care.

Dr. Michael Curry, president of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, said MassHealth supports a large share of community health center revenue and patient care: “On average, 31% of health centers’ revenue come from Medicaid.” He and others gave patient-centered examples, including long-term cancer care and home-based services, to illustrate what lost coverage would mean for individuals and families.

A MassHealth consumer, Dennis Heaphy, described personal dependence on home-based services and warned that reductions in personal care attendant hours would force some people into nursing homes. “If those PCA hours are cut, I won’t be able to get enough PCAs to provide the care I need,” Heaphy said, calling for federal legislators to resist the cuts.

Speakers also raised concerns about ripple effects on employers and the state economy, including higher insurance premiums, more uncompensated care in emergency departments, and closure of facilities in financially thin margins. They urged residents to press senators in the coming legislative steps; speakers noted the House package passed by a single vote and could be defeated if just one House Republican changes course.

Event organizers and officials framed the gathering as part of a broader campaign of education and activation to influence the Senate and public opinion. No formal votes or local legislative actions were taken at the event.

The officials said the next steps include continued outreach to federal lawmakers and public mobilization to block the House-passed package as it moves through the Senate. Local leaders asked residents to contact senators and the White House to oppose the proposed changes to Medicaid and related safety-net programs.