Medicaid

Why is Medicaid important for a person with dwarfism?

Many in the dwarfism community rely on Medicaid for essential care, including surgeries, mobility devices, and specialist visits. 

What could happen if Medicaid funding is reduced or eliminated?

Proposed cuts would put these services at risk, impacting the health and independence of people with disabilities nationwide.

What do we know as facts?

• On February 25, the House of Representatives passed House Concurrent Resolution 14 by the Republican majority on a largely party-line vote. The resolution was endorsed by President Trump.
• The House resolution laid out the broad parameters of extending the 2017 tax cut provisions and enacting some new cuts, at a cost of $4.5 trillion over 10 years, and reducing government spending by $2 trillion over the same time period.
• The House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over Medicare, Medicaid, among other programs, was assigned a reduction target of $881 billion in spending over 2025-2034.
• Medicaid is funded jointly by states and the federal government, which provides matching funds of at least 50%. An expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act provides a match of 90% in federal funding. About 21% of the U.S. population, or 83 million people, have Medicaid coverage, including those with low income and disabilities, as well as seniors. Medicaid, not Medicare, covers long-term care expenses for the elderly.
• Significant reductions in Medicaid spending would impact eligible individuals and families but also the ability of states and communities generally to provide healthcare services for everyone by removing significant health spending that hospitals and care providers depend on for operations.
• The so-called Big Beautiful Bill reconciliation legislation that is on the verge of passing in the House of Representatives contains a package of provisions that, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, would reduce the amount of Medicaid funding going to the states by $700 billion from 2026-2034.
• The Medicaid provisions, in many cases, would achieve the Federal savings by creating barriers for people, including the disabled, to remain eligible by requiring more frequent proof of eligibility (every six months versus once a year) and proof of exemptions to work requirements or cost sharing.
• Use of state systems for work requirements in Arkansas, for example, was associated with losses in Medicaid coverage, an increase in the percentage of adults who were uninsured, and no significant change in employment—as nearly everyone targeted by the policy met the requirements already or qualified for an exemption.
• Both Houses of Congress need to agree on a budget framework and any legislative changes before any changes to the Medicaid program can be enacted.

What We Do Not Know Yet

• Whether the Senate will go along with the Medicaid reductions in the House budget resolution or propose alternatives.

Recommended Action

• Contact your elected representative and your two Senators to let them know you oppose cuts to the Medicaid program.    

Toolkit for Taking Action

Need help advocating for Medicaid?  Download our Medicaid Toolkit which includes sample social media prompts, graphic, and a template for contacting your representative

(updated 5-21-25)