Reps. Sykes Co-Sponsors Legislation to Reverse Health Care Cuts in the Big Ugly Bill

Reps. Sykes Co-Sponsors Legislation to Reverse Health Care Cuts in the Big Ugly Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) recently co-sponsored H.R.4849, the Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act of 2025. This bill, introduced by Congressman Adam Gray (CA-13), would reverse all of the healthcare cuts made in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, H.R. 1, including those to Medicaid, and would permanently extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Premium Tax Credits.

"I hear daily from my constituents that the cost of everything - gas, groceries, housing, and healthcare - is too expensive. Republicans' H.R.1 raises costs even higher, and kicks hundreds of thousands of people off their health insurance all together," said Rep. Sykes. "To rectify this, we must pass the Protecting Health Care and Lowering Costs Act to reverse harmful Medicaid cuts and extend vital ACA tax credits, ensuring that Ohioans can access affordable healthcare when they need it."

Republicans' H.R. 1, made sweeping changes to Medicaid and the ACA. Additionally, the ACA's Enhanced Premium Tax Credit is set to expire at the end of 2025. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that, taken together, these changes will result in 15 million people losing their health care, including 489,815 Ohioans.

Due to these cuts, the legislation is expected to increase premiums for the 32,000 people in Ohio's 13th Congressional District who are covered under the ACA by an estimated $720 per year. Already, AultCare has announced that they will not renew health plans for 6,000 members because of uncertainty around the future of the ACA Premium Tax Credits.