EUGENE, Ore. — The proposed solutions to paying for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which is being reviewed by the United States Senate, include $1.5 trillion in cuts to Medicaid, food stamps, and green energy incentives.
Medicaid is the nation’s largest health insurance provider, providing health coverage to low-income individuals.
According to the Oregon Health Authority, one out of every three Oregonians receives Medicaid benefits.
That means that the cuts could affect approximately 1.4 million Medicaid recipients.
Lane County accounts for 131,407 of that total, with Medicaid covering slightly more than 34% of the county’s population.
Medicaid recipients make up 40.9% of Douglas County’s population.
In Coos County, that figure equals 39.5% of the population.
“In Oregon, our Medicaid program is known as both the Oregon Health Plan and Healthier Oregon. So I believe that some Oregonians are unaware that they are receiving Medicaid benefits.
If we lose that federal funding as a result of what’s going on with Medicaid at the federal level, the state will have to figure out how to fill the gap.
According to Jane Leo, Oregon government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, 100,000 people are expected to lose Medicaid coverage as a result of these requirements.
If passed by the Senate and approved by the House, the bill would require Medicaid and food stamp recipients up to the age of 65 to work 80 hours per month and pay a $35 co-pay for certain Medicaid services.
