|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Proposed federal budget cuts to Medicaid are more than just numbers on a spreadsheet — they are a direct threat to the health, dignity, and future of millions of Floridians.
In South Florida, the impact would be especially devastating. Medicaid is a lifeline for 2.1 million children, 700,000 seniors, and 350,000 people with disabilities. It covers 42 percent of all births in Florida and supports 58 percent of nursing home residents. It is, quite literally, the backbone of care for our state’s most vulnerable.
Yet today, that backbone is at risk of being broken.
Across the country, health professionals are warning that cuts to Medicaid not only will harm patients but destabilize the entire healthcare system. A recent study from the Commonwealth Fund projects that if federal proposals to reduce Medicaid and SNAP funding go forward, the nation could lose more than 1 million jobs, nearly half of which — about 477,000 — would be in healthcare alone.
Clinics may be forced to close, especially in rural and underserved communities. Hospitals, many of which already operate on thin margins, would face major financial strain or closures, as Medicaid accounts for roughly 15 percent of hospital revenue nationwide.
Families, too, will feel the pressure. One in four adults already report skipping or delaying medical care due to cost. Without insurance, many would be forced to forgo care altogether or take on mounting medical debt just to get the treatment they need.
And the economic fallout doesn’t stop with the healthcare system. Medicaid dollars don’t just help patients, they sustain local economies. In Florida alone, proposed cuts could eliminate over 33,000 jobs, including 16,000 outside the healthcare sector in industries like retail, construction, and food service.
These aren’t just statistics. They’re stories we hear every day. At the Health Foundation of South Florida, our grantees, community-based organizations, and partners continue to see the impact of coverage loss firsthand: parents skipping doctor visits, seniors rationing medications, and families living in fear of being uninsured.
Community-based organizations are stepping up — but they cannot fill the void that federal cuts would create. Our safety net cannot be patched with goodwill alone.
That’s why we’re calling on Florida’s Congressional delegation and lawmakers across the country to reject any proposal that cuts Medicaid funding or undermines its structure.
In January 2025, the Health Foundation of South Florida joined with the Florida Health
Justice Project and other leading organizations across the state to urge elected officials to:
• Reject any proposals that would cut federal Medicaid funding or fundamentally alter the program’s structure.
• Protect and strengthen Medicaid’s role as a vital safety net for vulnerable Floridians.
• Work to improve access to healthcare services for all Florida residents.
We believe in a Florida where every child, every senior, every family — regardless of income or zip code — can access the healthcare they need to live with dignity and hope.
Medicaid is not a luxury. It is not negotiable. It is essential.
Now is the time to protect it, not cut it.
Loreen Chant is the President and CEO of the Health Foundation of South Florida. Barbara Fonte is the Chief Impact Officer at Jackson Health System and Board Chair of the Health Foundation of South Florida.
ABOUT US:
For more Miami community news, look no further than Miami Community Newspapers. This Miami online group of newspapers covers a variety of topics about the local community and beyond. Miami’s Community Newspapers offers daily news, online resources, podcasts and other multimedia content to keep readers informed. With topics ranging from local news to community events, Miami’s Community Newspapers is the ideal source for staying up to date with the latest news and happenings in the area.
This family-owned media company publishes more than a dozen neighborhood publications, magazines, special sections on their websites, newsletters, as well as distributing them in print throughout Miami Dade County from Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, South Miami, Kendall, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and Homestead. Each online publication and print editions provide comprehensive coverage of local news, events, business updates, lifestyle features, and local initiatives within its respective community.
Additionally, the newspaper has exclusive Miami community podcasts, providing listeners with an in-depth look into Miami’s culture. Whether you’re looking for local Miami news, or podcasts, Miami’s Community Newspapers has you covered. For more information, be sure to check out: https://communitynewspapers.com.
If you have any questions, feel free to email Michael@communitynewspapers.com or Grant@communitynewspapers.com.
