New Law Reverses 10 Years of Progress, Putting Lives and Communities at Risk

Today, Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a measure that will strip Medicaid coverage from more than 12 million people, put thousands of lives at risk each year, and threaten the stability of health clinics and hospitals across the country. This law delivers a devastating blow to the health and well-being of low-income, underserved, and unhoused individuals – people who have already faced many barriers to care.

We are outraged by the profound disregard for the health and dignity of our neighbors. These policies will undo a decade of progress in reducing the number of uninsured people in the United States and in strengthening care for people experiencing homelessness.

In the Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) community, Medicaid expansion cut uninsured rates by more than half in expansion states, opening the door to services like medical respite care and supportive housing. This progress is now at risk as states face budget shortfalls and are forced to cut critical programs.

Research shows the human cost of this law is staggering: over 16,000 preventable deaths each year, more than 1 million job losses by 2029, and closures of health centers and hospitals. The new Medicaid work requirements are particularly harmful and  counterproductive. Decades of evidence show that such requirements do not improve employment or wages. Instead, they add harmful red tape that burdens states, providers, and low-income people while diverting critical resources from patient care.

This law runs contrary to our values of compassion, justice, and equity. Health care is a human right, and no person should be forced to go without care simply because of where they live, how much they earn, or whether they have a job.

We will not stand silent as these harmful policies take effect. We call on our community to come together – to advocate, to organize, and to build a movement for laws that reflect the needs and humanity of all people, not just the interests of the powerful. In the short term, we will redouble our efforts to protect and expand Medicaid eligibility and services. Over the long term, we remain committed to the vision of universal coverage through Medicare for All – a more efficient and just system that guarantees health care as a human right.

Our fight continues. Together we will work for an equitable, high-quality health care system where all people – regardless of race, income, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability or immigration status – can achieve the health and well-being they deserve.