Valley health leaders raise concerns over cuts to Medicaid

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Leaders at United Health Centers are sounding the alarm about cuts to Medicaid in the coming years.

“Medicaid is more than just insurance; it is a lifeline that allows us to diagnose, treat, and prevent disease,” said Dr. Sharareh Shabafrooz, United Health Centers Associate Medical Director.

Alongside Congressman Jim Costa, they advocated for funding to be restored to Medicaid programs, after more than one trillion dollars in funding was cut over the next 10 years as part of the so-called Big Beautiful Bill.

The United Health Centers CEO said almost 70 percent of their patients are on the Medi-Cal program.

“In the San Joaquin Valley, we face massive provider shortages and we have a very limited healthcare infrastructure,” said Justin Preas, United Health Centers CEO. “So any cut, cuts to the Medi-Cal program, is just devastating. I can already tell you we’re trying to do a lot with not enough.”

Dr. Shabafrooz believes those cuts wouldn’t just impact those who depend on Medi-Cal.

“When patients delay care because they can’t afford it, their conditions worsen, and ultimately it costs the health systems more, and this will impact all of us,” said Shabafrooz.

Republican Congressman Vince Fong was not available on Wednesday, but previously said the changes to Medicaid in the act would ensure federal tax dollars were not used to provide medical benefits to immigrants without legal status and puts into place a sensible work requirement.

However, in an effort to cut spending, last month, Governor Gavin Newsom froze new Medi-Cal applications for “certain adults who are undocumented and do not have a satisfactory immigration status for federal full scope Medi-Cal,” starting in 2026.

Costa said funding for Medicaid will need to be addressed in the budget. He also pointed to legislation introduced in the Senate by Republican Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri. It proposes to repeal some of the recently passed reductions in Medicaid funding, as well as increase the Rural Health Transformation Fund from $50 billion to $100 billion and extend the duration of the fund from five to 10 years. That fund was established in the act amid concerns for rural hospitals across the country.

Cuts to Medicaid wouldn’t begin until next year, so medical professionals say if you’re concerned about losing coverage, you should seek out any preventive healthcare now.

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Valley health leaders raise concerns over cuts to Medicaid

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