Medcaid Funding Is Being Cut

 

March, 2025 Medicaid presentation by EvergreenHealth CEO Dr. Ettore Palazzo and Senator Maria Cantwell

"Friendly nurse reminder: in WA state, Medicaid is referred to as Apple Health. Medicaid funding is being cut. This could lead to up to ~14 rural hospitals shutting down in 2026 or 2027.

Neither EvergreenHealth or Overlake are on that list but there are layoffs reported at Overlake (possibly related to the cuts) per the Worker adjustment and retraining notification (WARN) layoff and closure database.

No layoffs at EvergreenHealth and Overlake at this time.

But what does this list mean for y'all? Be prepared for longer waits at urgent care and the ER as more patients need to be seen at fewer hospitals AND people start losing insurance and cannot afford to be seen at primary care/urgent care and thus cannot keep up with preventative care.

Try your best to practice preventative care and to treat minor injuries/illnesses promptly so they do not become "BIG" concerns that need the ER or hospitalization."

Source: Recent Kirkland FB group post. 10/1/25

Not every state is cutting Medicaid yet, but they eventually will. Most of the provisions in the 2025 budget reconciliation bill—HR 1—have yet to go into effect and these cuts will have a devastating impact on state budgets. Analysis shows that HR 1 will cut federal Medicaid spending by $1 trillion over ten years. 

-- Source: Internet, Oct 2. 2025

North Carolina and Idaho have already announced plans to cut Medicaid payments to health care providers, including hospitals, doctors, and caregivers.

In Michigan and Pennsylvania — where lawmakers have yet to pass budgets this year — spending on Medicaid is part of those debates. In Washington state, lawmakers approved cuts to the program that will not affect who is eligible, said Hayden Mackley, a spokesperson for the state’s Office of Financial Management.

Source:  Internet, 9/2025