WNEM: Medical professionals speak with Rep. McDonald Rivet on Medicaid cuts potential impact
Mid. MICHIGAN (WNEM) — Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet made a stop in mid-Michigan to discuss President Donald Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ that was signed into law.
McDonald Rivet said it is the ‘big ugly bill’ and the Medicaid cuts will defund mid-Michigan hospitals and raise healthcare costs for everyone.
The residents TV5 talked with agreed that there’s nothing pretty about the ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill.’
“I have never ever in my career seen the type of damage, and the type of insult to the people we serve that is going to happen with this particular bill,” said Dan Russell, CEO of Genesee Health System.
“The American Medical Association, where I serve as president, is going to continue this fight to improve the health of our patients by making sure they get timely care,” said Doctor Bobby Mukkamala, American Medical Association President. “This law takes us in the wrong direction.”
The pair spoke at an event put on by Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet.
“You have in front of you the CEO of a health system, doctors, nurses, patients, the head of the AMA, who are saying that these cuts that were passed in congress, the trillion dollars out of Medicaid, are real, and they are dangerous for our communities,” said McDonald Rivet.
The group shared their concerns about how they think the new law will impact Medicaid in the years to come, saying a trillion dollars will be removed from the federal program.
The Trump Administration said there won’t be cuts to Medicaid. Instead, waste, fraud and abuse will be eliminated.
“The idea that these cuts are only going to affect people who are committing fraud, or who are in the country illegally, is just a flat out lie,” said McDonald Rivet.
Now that the new law is in place, McDonald Rivet said she is focused on making sure people know how this legislation will affect them. She also wants people represented by a U.S. Senator or Representative who voted yes on the bill to reach out to them and make their voice heard.
“We have to organize at the community level,” said McDonald Rivet. “And as Doctor Mukkamala said, this is a ten-year implementation. So, it means that while we may start down this road, we have the ability to stop it.”
TV5 has previously reported that President Trump has repeatedly said that the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ protects and strengthens Medicaid for those who rely on it -- pregnant women, children, seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families -- while eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse.