After House Republicans passed a budget blueprint that will slash Medicaid funding by $880 billion, many Virginians who rely on the program—2 million in total—are expressing their fears about losing access to critical health care. Virginia is one of the nine states where Medicaid expansion will be reversed if federal funding is cut by even one percent. That means at least 630,000 Virginians would be automatically disenrolled from Medicaid.

WUSA9: Some Virginia Medicaid Recipients on edge amid budget votes
By Matthew Torres

• “U.S. House Republicans passed a budget blueprint last night that many say could lead to cuts for the program.”
• “[...] As our Matthew Torres explains, just the talk of these possible budget cuts is worrying many Virginians tonight.”
• “We caught up with Michael, who left this food pantry in Arlington [...] He wanted to share his concerns if Medicaid benefits are cut. Like tens of millions of other Americans, he relies on federal assistance for health care.”
• “‘Six to eight months ago, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer,’ Michael said.”
• “Michael’s worried about a newly-passed budget plan that calls for $880 billion in cuts [...]”
• “‘Desperation, fear, hopelessness. I am caught between finding employment or taking care of my health,’ Michael said.”
• “Roughly 630,000 Virginians benefit from Medicaid expansion. Roughly 1.9 million Virginians are enrolled in Medicaid.”
• “‘I think we need more humility than partisan politics. People need to put themselves in other people’s shoes [...],’ Michael said.”

WVTF: Virginia’s disabled community asks Congress to not cut Medicaid funds
By Brad Kutner

• “After record investments in Virginia's behavioral health systems, advocates for the state's disabled community are asking Congress to make sure Medicaid funds aren’t cut during upcoming budget negotiations.”
• “Nobody wants waste and fraud. The people I know who depend on Medicaid aren’t committing fraud and they’re not wasting those services,” Teri Morgan, head of the Virginia Board of People with Disabilities, told Radio IQ Tuesday. “They’re trying to live their lives.”
• “Virginia's share of federal Medicaid funding totaled $14.8 billion in 2023, 60% of all federal funding sent to the Commonwealth. About 17% of Virginians receive such benefits, with 30% of all of Virginia's children in the program.”
• “Medicaid has a human face,” State Senator Creigh Deeds told Radio IQ Tuesday, noting two million Virginians are enrolled in the benefit. "It has to be a functioning program, and it can’t be unless the federal government fulfills its obligation.”