July 3, 2025
WSMA President John Bramhall, MD, Reacts to Passage of GOP Tax Bill and Its Massive Cuts to Medicaid
"The 'Big, Beautiful Bill' passed by congressional Republicans today is a travesty for patients and the physician community in our state and across the country. Once signed into law by President Trump, the bill enacts the largest cuts to federal health care spending in our country's history and will lead to 11.8 million people nationwide losing health insurance over the next decade, including tens of thousands here in Washington state. Our state will face billions of dollars in lost federal health care funding, jeopardizing programs on which our state's residents rely.
"As many of us in the house of medicine have been warning, this massive loss of coverage and funding will affect everyone. We will see the loss of health care services, more medical practice closures, longer wait times, and more stress on an already fragile health care system—both on hospital inpatient and emergency care services and on outpatient community clinics, where routine care is provided on a daily basis. These repercussions will be most profound in our rural and underserved communities, but will be felt by all, regardless of where you live and your insurance status.
"It's important to keep in mind that Medicaid funding is used to pay for the provision of the basic health care needs of vulnerable residents. Physicians and hospitals have a moral and ethical obligation to help prevent and treat illness and injury in all residents and Medicaid funding is part of the mechanism allowing us to do this. In Washington state, these funds are very carefully distributed and safeguarded by the state Health Care Authority through its Apple Health program to the ultimate benefit of all our residents.
"Throughout the debates on this bill, many members of our congressional delegation have been stalwart in their defense of Medicaid. We’d like to thank those members of Washington state’s delegation who have opposed the bill, coordinating closely with us to raise concerns, and for clearly articulating Medicaid’s importance to Washingtonians throughout the state.
"As we have done since our founding, the Washington State Medical Association will continue to work to support Washingtonian’s ability to access care when and where they need it. This week our job became that much harder, yet it remains our mission to continue, a duty we will not turn our backs on.”
For more information contact:
Graham Short
WSMA Director of Communications
gfs@wsma.org / 206.329.6851 cell/text
About the Washington State Medical Association
The Washington State Medical Association represents nearly 13,000 physicians, resident physicians, physician assistants, and medical students across all specialties and practice types in Washington state. The WSMA has advocated on behalf of the house of medicine for more than 125 years. Our vision is to make Washington state the best place to practice medicine and receive care.