Tradeoffs Unpacking the Health Impacts of Republicans' 'Big Beautiful Bill'
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Jun 26, 2025 
Rachel Werner, a physician and Executive Director at the Leonard Davis Institute, joins health economist Eric Roberts and pediatrician Aditi Vasan to dissect the alarming consequences of the Republican 'Big Beautiful Bill.' They explore potential spikes in the uninsured population and preventable deaths linked to the proposed healthcare reforms. The trio discusses dire implications for Medicaid, including significant financial burdens for low-income families and the moral need to protect access to life-saving care. Personal stories highlight the urgent need for advocacy.
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Eligibility Checks Cause Coverage Loss
- Frequent Medicaid eligibility checks cause coverage loss mainly from administrative errors, not actual ineligibility.
- These checks increase paperwork for states and push eligible people off coverage unnecessarily.
Cancer Patient's Medicaid Struggle
- A patient with metastatic cancer couldn't enroll in Medicaid due to paperwork challenges during a vulnerable time.
- This prevented timely hospice care, causing higher costs and less dignity in their final days.
Work Requirements Fail to Increase Employment
- Work requirements in Medicaid primarily cause coverage loss due to administrative burdens, not failure to work.
- Most beneficiaries are already working or qualify for exemptions, so work mandates don't increase employment.