According to The Congressional Budget Office, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act would reduce federal Medicaid spending by an estimated $793 billion-dollars over the next ten years, which would affect CenCal Health, the Medicaid managed care plan, that supports over 242,000 low-income people in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties.
Marina Owen is the CEO of CenCal Health. She says these cuts will not only impact patients, but entire facilities.
“As we know many health care facilities are already facing financial challenges and workforce shortages. So these reductions could really jeopardize health care jobs. The stability of provider partnerships on the Central Coast and then California and nationwide,” said Owen.
Owen says CenCal officials are also deeply concerned about funding cuts to hospitals and particularly rural facilities, like the Lompoc Valley Medical Center.
Back in May, the bill passed the House of Representatives and is now being reviewed by the Senate.
