The American Nurses Association (ANA) is sounding the alarm after H.R.1 became law, warning that deep Medicaid cuts could strip coverage from nearly 12 million Americans and push the nation’s healthcare system to the breaking point.
“We are deeply concerned about the negative impacts of the bill that has just passed both houses of Congress and will soon go to the President’s desk for signature,” said ANA President Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN.
According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, H.R.1 will slash healthcare funding by $1.1 trillion, with $930 billion in Medicaid cuts and 11.8 million Americans projected to lose access to their health insurance.
“These are not just numbers—they are human beings,” said Dr. Kennedy. “Passage of this bill is a devastating blow to millions of Americans who rely on Medicaid.”
Why It Matters: Medicaid Cuts Have Real-World Consequences
Nurses witness firsthand the role Medicaid plays in keeping families, seniors, children, and rural communities healthy and supported. Cutting these funds, the ANA warns, will have a downstream effect on access to care, clinical staffing, and the stability of hospitals and health centers—especially in underinvested areas.
“Medicaid is not simply a line item in the federal budget—it is the lifeline that keeps America’s health care system functioning,” said Dr. Kennedy. “These cuts will have a downstream negative effect on clinic access, staffing, and access to care, with consequences that will be felt for generations.”
Medicaid currently accounts for 19% of hospital revenue nationwide. Reductions of this magnitude could trigger a domino effect: hospital and clinic closures, overburdened providers, and reduced care for patients across the board.
Nurses Already Under Pressure
Nurses are already stretched thin, and the ANA cautions that further erosion of Medicaid support will increase burnout, moral injury, and attrition among the nursing workforce.
“Cuts to Medicaid would result in hospital and clinic closures… and would force nurses to shoulder even heavier workloads, leading to burnout, attrition, and ultimately, worse patient outcomes,” Dr. Kennedy said.
Standing Firm: Nurses Will Keep Advocating
Despite this legislative setback, the ANA vows to continue fighting for patients and providers.
“The American Nurses Association’s commitment to ensuring human flourishing and access to healthcare remains steadfast,” said Dr. Kennedy. “We will continue to advocate relentlessly to defend healthcare access, hold policy makers and regulators accountable, and mitigate these damaging cuts.”
With 11.8 million Americans at risk of losing insurance, the ANA is urging lawmakers—and the public—not to treat this as a political footnote, but as a defining issue that will shape the future of healthcare.
“Nurses are the trusted voices in every community across this country, and we will continue to speak out for our patients and the future of healthcare in America,” said Dr. Kennedy. “The American Nurses Association stands firm in its commitment to protect patients, communities, and the nursing workforce.”
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