Washington, DC — The National Health Law Program (NHeLP) strongly condemns today’s House passage of the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act, a sweeping and harmful set of policies that now heads to President Trump’s desk for signature. The bill threatens the health and economic security of millions of people by slashing Medicaid and marketplace coverage, restricting access to care, and undermining critical supports for low-income and underserved communities.
“This is a direct attack on the health and well-being of low-income individuals and families,” said Mara Youdelman, Managing Director of Federal Advocacy. “The bill cuts nearly a trillion dollars from Medicaid. It will force states to slash eligibility and services, causing individuals to lose coverage and communities to lose the providers they depend on. And all of this is done to fund tax breaks for corporations and the ultrarich.”
In addition to devastating Medicaid funding cuts, the bill imposes punitive new barriers like work requirements and frequent eligibility checks that make it harder to get and keep coverage. It weakens Affordable Care Act protections and limits access to health care for lawfully present immigrants. It defunds providers like Planned Parenthood and cuts essential programs like SNAP, while funneling billions into immigration enforcement that separates families and harms communities.
“NHeLP is prepared to fight back. We will work to ensure that when this bill is signed into law, its harmful provisions are implemented in the least damaging way possible. We will continue to partner with advocates across the country to protect enrollees and defend their rights,” said Sarah Somers, Legal Director. “And if rights are threatened, we are ready to defend them.”
“This is not about improving care or creating efficiency—it is about cruelty,” said Elizabeth G. Taylor, Executive Director of NHeLP. “It punishes people with disabilities, chronic illnesses, caregiving responsibilities, and low incomes. It tears away coverage that helps people stay healthy. It defies basic principles of fairness, decency, and good governance. President Trump repeatedly promised not to cut Medicaid. He pledged to stand with working families. Signing this bill breaks those promises.For more than 55 years, the National Health Law Program has protected and defended the rights of Medicaid enrollees. We know this fight. We’ve done it before. And we are ready to do it again. We will not allow these draconian policies to go unchallenged.”
