Washington lawmakers rebuke Republicans' potential cuts to Medicaid

Democratic U.S. Senator Patty Murray and Congressmember Emily Randall are speaking out against potential cuts to Medicaid, and what it could mean for the nearly 1.8 million Washingtonians covered by the program.

During a press conference in Olympia, the two Democrats rebuked a budget framework already passed by House lawmakers in D.C., which would slash $880 billion in funding for Medicaid and other health care programs. That budget is now under consideration in the Senate.

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"Cuts to Medicaid, at the scale Republicans are directing, will mean hospitals and clinics, especially in our rural areas, will close their doors," Murray said. "Moms and babies will lose health care coverage, seniors will be kept from home care services."

According to Murray, Washington state received over $12 billion in Medicaid funding in 2023, which covers a portion of the state's Apple Health program.

The proposed cuts come as many Republican lawmakers in D.C. look to slash government spending, and add work requirements for Medicaid.

But cuts to Medicaid would have an even deeper impact on Washingtonians in the state's redder districts.

"Here in our state, Washington's 4th and 5th congressional districts — the only two represented by Republicans — have the highest proportions of people who rely on Medicaid."

According to a report published by the Washington State Health Care Authority in June 2024, 70% of children under the age of 19 in Washington's 4th Congressional District (represented by Republican Congressmember Dan Newhouse) are on Medicaid.

In the 5th Congressional District, 54% of children are enrolled in the program. Republican Congressmember Michael Baumgartner represents that district.

"Those are the places that are going to really get hit hardest if Republicans succeed in their plan to dramatically slash Medicaid," Murray said.

Congressmember Emily Randall added that Medicaid cuts could worsen an already tough economic situation for hospitals in her district.

"We have hospitals in Forks, in Port Angeles, that are already hanging by a thread, that are struggling to keep providers employed and keep their doors open to continue providing life saving care," Randall said.

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There are hospitals in Gig Harbor and Silverdale that could try to pick up the slack, but Randall says those locations can't absorb all of the healthcare needs on the Olympic Peninsula.

Medicaid cuts could also have a drastic impact on the day-to-day lives of those who use the program's services.

Julie Clark is the chair of the public policy committee of the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council. Clark uses a text-to-voice machine, and uses care services covered by Medicaid to live independently.

"My staff supports me with medications and they help me to get to and from appointments," Clark said. "They support my social activities. I like my freedom. Everyone deserves to have the quality of life to work and lie in their own home in the community."

Without Medicaid, Clark said she would have have no choice but to move into an institution, and her days of living independently would be over.