ICYMI: Reps. Schrier and Larsen Hold Roundtable with Local Families, Health Leaders to Discuss Impacts of Medicaid Cuts in Washington

EVERETT, WA - Representatives Kim Schrier, M.D (WA-08) and Rick Larsen (WA-02) convened families and healthcare leaders to discuss the local impacts of President Trump and Congressional Republicans' Medicaid cuts.

Reps. Schrier and Larsen were joined by Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) Director Ryan Moran, DrPH, MHSA, Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) Medicaid Director Trinity Wilson, Seattle Children's Care Network (SCCN) Chief Medical Officer Kenisha Campbell, MD, MPH, Seattle Children's Chief Medical Officer Ruth McDonald, MD, and the Kobernik family.

BACKGROUND: President Trump's Big Ugly Bill is estimated to cut federal Medicaid spending by $1 trillion over the next decade. Medicaid (Apple Health) in Washington state provides care for almost 2 million Washingtonians - almost half of them are children.

Between 200,000 and 320,000 Washingtonians are projected to lose Medicaid (Apple Health) coverage between 2025-2034. In 2026, thousands of Washingtonians are expected to lose coverage due to the first round of these cuts.

"I've hospitalized children with severe pneumonia, mastoiditis, and other life-threatening conditions who could have been treated as an outpatient by their primary care doctor before their illnesses got severe, but who did not go to their own doctor because their families didn't have insurance," said Congresswoman Schrier. "President Trump and Congressional Republicans' senseless cuts to Medicaid (Apple Health) will mean that hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians will lose their healthcare and wind up in similar situations, starting as soon as this fall and winter. Thank you to the local leaders and families who participated in our discussion today and are continuing their advocacy on behalf of impacted communities. I will continue to do all I can in Congress to restore Medicaid benefits and ensure all Americans can access affordable, quality healthcare services."

"The cuts to Medicaid in the Big Ugly Law will be devastating for working families across Northwest Washington," said Congressman Larsen. "More uninsured people means more ER visits, less compensation for hospitals treating the uninsured patients, higher premiums for everyone and a sicker population. I will keep fighting alongside Rep. Schrier and House Democrats to roll back Trump's cuts to Medicaid and make health care accessible and affordable."

"More than half of the patients we serve rely on Medicaid, so it is truly a lifeline for tens of thousands of families in Washington state and the Pacific Northwest seeking lifesaving care," said Ruth McDonald, vice president and chief medical officer at Seattle Children's. "Cuts to Medicaid will be devastating and have a ripple effect, resulting in fewer specialists, longer wait times and less access for every child, not just those enrolled in Medicaid."

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