Emergency Medicaid Town Hall Highlights Urgent Concerns Over Proposed Federal Cuts
On Tuesday, May 20, Colorado Access co-hosted an Emergency Medicaid Town Hall in Commerce City. The event, moderated by our president and CEO Annie Lee, brought together Medicaid members, caregivers, advocates, and providers to discuss the sweeping changes to Medicaid currently under consideration in Congress.
The discussion centered on the proposal from the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees Medicaid. The proposal offers reforms to achieve more than $880 billion in savings over the next decade as directed by the budget resolution that passed in April. The House of Representatives voted to approve this as part of broader legislation on May 22, 2025.
The Medicaid portion of the legislation focuses on four areas:
- Reducing fraud and improving enrollment processes
- Preventing wasteful spending
- Stopping abusive finance practices
- Increasing personal accountability.
Among the provisions, specifics of the proposal include:
- Establishing “community engagement” (work requirements) for certain adults (ages 19 to 65) without dependents, which mandate at least 80 hours per month of community service, work, or school.
- Reducing the federal match for the Medicaid expansion population from 90% to 80% if a state provides comprehensive health care coverage for undocumented immigrants
- Prohibiting gender-affirming care coverage for minors and adults.
- Adding new eligibility and enrollment hurdles for both states and individuals.
- Imposing cost-sharing on the Medicaid expansion for adults with incomes over 100% of the federal poverty level.
During the town hall, panelists shared deeply personal experiences with Medicaid, illustrating how these proposals could devastate their lives and communities.
Wayla, a caregiver, described how Medicaid has enabled her daughter – who lives with disabilities – to lead a more independent life. Thanks to Medicaid, her daughter can live at home, attend day programs, and participate in community outings. Wayla noted the burdensome administrative requirements, such as wage reporting and hour limitations, already in place when her daughter worked. She shared that Medicaid has given her daughter a sense of self-worth and purpose. Finally, Wayla warned against the noted cuts that could jeopardize her daughter’s care and hard-won independence.
For community health providers, Medicaid is not just a program – it keeps people alive with access to high-quality, affordable care. Maisha Fields, the director of community partnerships at Salud Family Health Centers, remarked, “As providers, we want to stay in the fight. At the end of the day, if we lose Medicaid, we lose providers.”
Lisa, a home health care worker, shared a heartbreaking story of her late son, who battled addiction. She credited Medicaid with extending his life by providing him with access to treatment. She highlighted the system’s complexities, stressing the urgent need for simplification – which requires investment in the program, not cuts. Lisa also noted that much of her career as a home health care worker was funded through Medicaid reimbursement. For her family, Medicaid was a life-or-death issue, providing access to essential health care and a way to make ends meet.
Town hall attendees also heard about the ripple effect of federal Medicaid cuts on Colorado’s already strained budget from state treasurer Dave Young. Speakers also underscored the proposal’s impact on kids and their health, which is inextricably tied to their parents’ coverage—when parents have coverage, kids are more likely to have access to care.
Throughout the event, a message of hope and resilience emerged. Attendees were reminded of the truth that Congress is offering no alternative. When people lose Medicaid, they don’t get a second option. Panelists and participants alike called for continued momentum and advocacy, reminding everyone that “one day longer means one day stronger” as the process advances.
The message was clear: Medicaid is a lifeline to Adams County community members and Coloradans. As Congress advances the reconciliation package, which contains significant changes to Medicaid and other safety net programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Annie closed the town hall with a call to action: “We must keep showing up, telling the truth, and approaching disagreements with facts and heart.”
Special thanks to all the panelists and organizers of this event, as well as the participants who came to share their stories and ask questions. This event helped raise the voices of Medicaid members, providers, and our communities at this critical time.
Learn more at coaccess.com/medicaid.