It is a hectic and urgent time for AAPD, the disability community, our partners, and our allies, especially as discussions around Medicaid cuts continue to unfold. AAPD’s policy team continues to meet with Members of Congress to educate them about the harms that will result from these Medicaid cuts.

Current status of the Bill: 
Late Sunday night, the House Budget Committee passed the Reconciliation Bill, moving it forward to the Rules Committee, where it will be debated, potentially amended, and voted on before it moves to the House floor. This process is expected to start at 1 AM this Wednesday, with the goal of getting a floor vote on the Bill by Thursday. Read the FINAL House Bill here. 

If the Bill passes in the House, it will proceed to the Senate, where it may be approved, amended, or rejected. If the Senate’s version is different from the House’s, a committee will be formed to work out the differences between the two versions. Once finalized, the Bill will go to the President, who can either sign or veto it.

How will this bill cut Medicaid?

• Proposes at least $715 billion in cuts, the largest cuts to Medicaid in American history
• Imposes mandatory work requirements for Medicaid recipients aged 18-64, leading to an estimated 5 million people getting kicked off their Medicaid
• Includes freezing provider taxes and state-directed payments, which will make it difficult for states to finance their Medicaid program and reduce payments to healthcare providers,  making it more challenging for patients to access care.
• Eliminates the nursing home minimum staffing rule, which would leave residents of long-term care facilities without adequate staff to care for them
• Mandates cost-sharing, which means increasing healthcare costs for adults covered by Medicaid Expansion, by requiring copays.

Disability Impact:
These Medicaid provisions would strip health coverage from at least 13.7 million Americans, including millions of people with disabilities. Enacting this proposal would devastate access to essential healthcare services, assistive technologies, and long-term care—lifelines that empower disabled individuals to live independently. The consequences would be catastrophic: hospitals shutting down or cutting services, widespread job losses, skyrocketing premiums, and disproportionate harm to rural communities. Rather than protecting vulnerable populations, this Bill would inflict profound harm on those it claims to serve.

Action Items: 
You have the power to make a difference—this fight is far from over! Reach out to your House members and show them the real harm this Bill would cause. Call their offices, send impactful emails, share your message on social media while tagging them, visit their district offices, and amplify the voices and stories from your community and state. Your actions matter; together, we can protect what’s at stake!

You can use AAPD’s action alert to get started! Write and Call Your Officials Now

IThe American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) is a convener, connector, and catalyst for change, increasing the political and economic power of people with disabilities. As a national cross-disability rights organization, AAPD advocates for full civil rights for the over 71 million Americans with disabilities by promoting equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and political participation. To learn more, visit the AAPD website: www.aapd.com.

***