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| 7 Mar 2025 | |
| Testimony |
Family Physicians Stand for Medicaid: Protecting Patients and Communities
Family physicians are on the front lines of health care, witnessing firsthand the critical role Medicaid plays in ensuring access to affordable, essential care for millions of individuals and families. Medicaid is a lifeline for children, pregnant people, elderly adults, individuals with disabilities, and low-income families—providing coverage for preventive services, chronic disease management, mental health care, and long-term support. Without Medicaid, many patients would have no viable path to receiving the care they need.
Yet, this vital program is under threat. On February 25, the House of Representatives passed a proposal that includes $880 billion in cuts for the committee overseeing Medicaid. The Illinois Academy of Family Physicians (IAFP) and American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) is deeply concerned about these potential funding reductions, which would have devastating effects on patients, communities, and the health care system as a whole.
Medicaid’s impact is far-reaching. In Illinois, it covers 35% of children, funds 40% of childbirths—including delivery and postpartum care—and supports 69% of seniors in nursing homes. Federal matching funds under the Affordable Care Act have expanded Medicaid, improving health coverage in both urban and rural areas. The result? Increased access to care, lower mortality rates, and better health outcomes for our most vulnerable populations.
Cuts to Medicaid do not improve efficiency, nor do they reduce health care costs. Instead, they limit access to preventive care, force untreated chronic conditions into costly emergency settings, and increase health disparities. More than 770,000 Illinois residents could lose coverage if federal funding is withdrawn—an expense the state cannot afford to shoulder. These cuts would lead to missed screenings, more preventable illnesses, lost workdays, and unnecessary deaths.
Family physicians stand united in urging Congress to protect and fully fund Medicaid. This is not just about policy, it’s about real people, real families, and real lives. The health of our communities depends on ensuring that Medicaid remains strong, so that all individuals—regardless of income—have access to the care they need to live healthy, productive lives.
We call on lawmakers to reject harmful cuts and instead invest in a program that saves lives, supports public health, and strengthens the economic well-being of our nation.
Additional References:
AAFP Joint Chapter Letter to Senate Opposing Medicaid Cuts - February 27, 2025
AAFP Joint Chapter Letter to House Opposing Medicaid Cuts - February 25, 2025
For more information, contact Gordana Krkic, CAE
Chief Executive Officer/Chief Advocacy Officer
