Proposed Federal GOP Medicaid cuts have become a significant talking point, with supporters and detractors on both sides of the party aisle jumping into the national discourse. With so many voices speaking on this issue, it can be difficult to find a reputable source, which is why, on the most recent episode of the Legal Lens Podcast, I brought on an expert in this area to dive into what the proposed cuts are, how they fit into the bigger political picture, and what they could mean for you, your family, and your friends.
“As a coalition founder, we are talking to so many clinics throughout our counties and neighboring counties, and also clinics in other states, because we understand what is at stake,” said Darryn Harris, Chief Government Affairs and Community Relations Officer, St. John’s Community Health. “We have made so much progress over the last six years, and we refuse to go back,” he added.
As a long-time employment and Title IX mediator and attorney, I shine a light on issues impacting the community. In the latest episode of The Legal Lens Podcast, I touched on the growing Medicare concerns that many Californians and Americans are facing. Let’s dive into the proposed Medicaid cuts in 2025 and what it means for you and people in your communities.
I strongly encourage you to listen to my short, engaging 30-minute discussion with Darryn Harris on my podcast, which you can find on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Simplecast, and anywhere you get your podcasts, for a convenient and intriguing dive into an issue that could potentially impact millions of Americans – including you and your loved ones.
The Critical Fight Against Proposed Medicaid Cuts in 2025 to Protect Healthcare Access
Last week, Darryn Harris joined the Legal Lens Podcast for a great and enlightening discussion about the threat to Medicaid and the fight to protect it. But before we dive into the looming proposed Medicaid budget cuts in 2025, take a moment to meet my guest, Darryn Harris, one of my favorite Millennials!
Who Is Darryn Harris?
Darryn Harris is the Chief Government Affairs and Community Relations Officer at St. John’s Community Health and a lifelong advocate for health equity and social justice. He is currently leading the Medicaid Matters to Me Campaign through the Health Justice Action Fund, a powerful effort to protect healthcare access for millions of Americans.
Prior to his role at St. Johns Hospital, where his role involves protecting public healthcare programs like Medicaid, working to expand healthcare access to some of the most vulnerable populations, and overseeing the community health center’s government relations program, their community partnerships, and their advocacy efforts, Darryn had a long history of working with elected officials, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
Darryn has nearly two decades of experience working at the intersection of policy, government, and community and obtained his Master’s degree in Higher Education and Organizational Change at UCLA. He is actively engaged in so many parts of our community and truly embodies the spirit of being the change you want to see in the world.
For a more detailed account of his incredible life story that has informed his passion for advocacy, the moving history and work of St. John’s Hospital and its commitment to serving communities that are too often underserved, and the vital role the Medicaid Matters to Me campaign plays in keeping the St. John’s doors open, you can hear it from his own mouth on this week’s 30-minute episode of the Legal Lens Podcast!
Because of his extensive experience in both community health and legislative government working with elected officials, he is uniquely equipped to provide insights on this issue. So, let’s dive into what we discussed in this week’s episode, starting at the beginning by answering the question: What Medicaid cuts are being proposed?
What Are the Proposed Cuts to Medicaid?
To understand the Medicaid proposed cuts, it’s important to look to Washington, D.C. With budget proposals in full swing, Congress and Republicans are considering massive cuts to Medicaid.
“What’s happening right now in D.C. is Congress is considering budget proposals and going through the budget process,” said Darryn, who has over a decade of experience working in D.C. in legislative government. “In order for them to get the tax break for the most wealthy people, they have to find over a trillion dollars somewhere, and they have been instructed to cut $880 million from the Energy and Commerce Committee, which is the committee that oversees health within congress and the Medicaid program as well,” he explained.
When asked what’s on the table specifically, Darryn, when discussing Trump Medicaid cuts, explained in no uncertain terms that these Trump cuts to Medicaid are set to potentially destabilize the program.
“When you talk about the most vulnerable folks, these cuts to Medicaid are not only going to affect patients who are seeking care, but they could be so significant in certain areas, such as rural communities, that we may see hospitals close,” Darryn said. “Take rural areas, for example. I was talking to a friend in South Carolina, and he was telling me that his hospital is two hours away from my grandmother’s home. I can’t imagine what would happen if a hospital were to close in an area like that and someone has to drive over two hours to get to a hospital,” he said.
Darryn also spoke to the gravity of this situation, “As they’re considering these budget proposals, what’s on the line is Medicaid funding, which could impose harsh new requirements and strip coverage from millions. These are not just numbers. This is really life or death for individuals who use this program to manage chronic conditions, whether for their mental health or cancer treatment.”
What Cuts Are Being Made to Medicaid?
While the House has already voted on Medicaid cuts and passed it, no official cuts have been made. The Senate still has to vote on this issue. So, until the bill is passed, no cuts have been made, and there’s no telling what the bill will look like at that stage.
When Will Medicaid Cuts Go Into Effect?
If passed, these Medicaid cuts would not go into effect for several years. As for how quickly these changes have leaped to the forefront of policy and national discourse, however, Darryn was surprised, to say the least, by how quickly President Trump has moved.
“I wasn’t expecting the President to move so quickly,” admitted Darryn. “But as everyone says, he kind of laid out exactly what he was going to do in 2025. It’s clear that during the holiday season, while most people were celebrating and going to parties, he was going to work on these initiatives,” he said.
In fact, the government has been so quick to move these proposed cuts through Congress that it caused Darryn and his organization to expedite their campaign.
“We launched Medicaid Matters to Me about a month ago at the end of April,” said Darryn. “We couldn’t wait. We thought we had more time, but Speaker Johnson made promises that he would have it through the House by Memorial Day. So we’ve been sprinting and bringing together all types of folks and really growing this coalition of local clinics, unions, public health advocates, and civil rights organizations who are all committed to defending Medicaid and the right to health care for everyone,” he explained.
It’s worth noting that this promise has been fulfilled, and since our conversation, the bill has already been moved through the House.
Who Will Be Affected by Medicaid Cuts?
Medicaid is a public health insurance program for low-income individuals, which includes children, seniors, people with disabilities, and regular working adults. These are the people who will likely be impacted the most by these budget cuts to Medicaid. In California, it’s called Medi-Cal, and it has other names in other states.
It’s important to say that the impact could be incredibly significant if these cuts are made, especially when considering the potential for nursing homes, hospitals, and clinics to close as a result.
“I believe that [Medi-Cal] is the backbone of our safety net here in California, covering one in three residents,” Darryn said.
The people who will be affected by the Trump Medicaid cuts are some of the most vulnerable communities in the nation, and Darryn sees these proposed cuts as an extension of other initiatives.
“On his inauguration day, he came out tacking illegal immigrants and members of the transgender community,” Darryn said. “In doing that, he immediately rolled back contracts that [St. John’s Hospital] had with the CDC to offer our services through our Trans Health Program. Since then, it has been not only our Trans Health Program – it has been programs that have been helping folks who are undocumented, and our Black Maternal Health Program is now under scrutiny as well. Our program that’s dealing with domestic violence is at risk, too,” he explained.
Ultimately, these are the vulnerable populations who will also be affected the most by Medicaid budget cuts. When Darryn looks at what’s unfolding, he describes it as “death by a thousand cuts.”
How are Darryn Harris and St. John’s Responding to Medicaid Cuts, and What Does it Mean for Government Contractors?
For Darryn, passively watching funding disappear is against his very nature, and he has refused to resign himself to these Medicaid funding cuts. Instead, Darryn has led the charge in fighting back, highlighting an important insight into the overlap of government contractors and funding.
“The way we’ve reacted to these cuts at St. John’s is, of course, we sued,” Darryn stated. “To me, if the federal government says, ‘If you do x, y, and z, we will reimburse you for x, y, and z,’ then you have to make good on your contract. It’s that simple,” he elaborated.
Darryn says that they have already seen some results.
“After suing the federal government, we have seen that they have let up on some of these efforts,” Darryn said. “Still, we know they are not going to renew those contracts when it’s time,” he added.
While funding has become increasingly scarce, even on a state and county level, Darryn said that there is some light at the end of the tunnel as community health centers have come together to navigate budget cuts to Medicaid to continue funding programs for vulnerable populations.
To this, I remarked that it’s much better than community health centers having a famine mentality and competing for limited resources.
Darryn says that St. John’s has launched a corporate C4 organization, which is a type of non-profit organization that allows St. John’s to do grassroots lobbying in certain areas. The C4 powers the Medicaid Matters to Me campaign, which is a national effort to mobilize clinics, patients, doctors, and advocates in key swing districts to stop House Republican’s Medicaid cuts and “make our voices heard in Congress.”
“The margins in Congress are so thin that we just need to convince two members of Congress that we can save Medicaid – just two,” Darryn said. “So, we have identified six districts – two in California, one in Nebraska, one in Michigan, one in Iowa, and one in New York – and members of Congress in districts with a high Medicaid population and a large amount of democrats,” he said, elaborating on their strategy with pride and urgency.
To Learn More About these Republican Medicaid Cuts in 2025 and Hear More Insights from Darryn? Download and Subscribe to My Podcast
To learn more about the proposed Medicaid Cuts in 2025, what it means, and its potential impact, I strongly encourage you to download and listen to my 30-minute podcast episode featuring Darryn Harris, who has ample experience in this field and was able to shed light on what these cuts could mean for millions of Americans nationwide and how he is combating these cuts in an engaging, inspiring, and easy-to-understand dialogue.
Listen and subscribe to my podcast on Simplecast or by clicking below!
Also, learn more about my book – The Workplace Transformed: 7 Crucial Lessons from the Global Pandemic – here – https://angelareddock-wright.com/book/.
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This communication is not legal advice. It is educational only. For legal advice, consult with an experienced employment law attorney in your state or city.