ATLANTA, Ga. - A Congressional Budget Office analysis estimated some 17 million Americans, and around 750,000 Georgians, will lose their health coverage by 2035 under the “Big Beautiful Bill” that has passed.
The measure pushed by President Donald Trump contains cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.
In Georgia, 70% of seniors in nursing homes are on Medicaid and 40% of Georgia children are also participants in the medical assistance program. Half of all births in the state are covered, at least in part, by Medicaid.
It narrowly passed the Senate on Tuesday, kicking off an all-day-and-all-night effort in the House to get it across the finish line.
“This bill is a catastrophe for healthcare in Georgia and for Georgia’s economy,” said Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff, a Democrat. “Voting for this bill is betraying the state of Georgia.”
Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., said that in addition to the loss of Medicaid coverage, the measure will threaten 66 rural Georgia hospitals.
“Washington politicians aren’t working for ordinary people,” Warnock said.
“But the power of the people is more powerful than the people in power. As the pastor of Dr. King’s church, I understand that our fight is not about any one vote, but about a moral vision for a world where all of God’s children can succeed.”
The House vote Thursday followed a marathon 8-hour, 45-minute floor speech by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in a record-setting but ultimately fruitless attempt to sway the minds of Republicans, who faced “no” votes even from their own party but still managed to secure a 218-214 victory.
Republicans celebrated the bill as a win for Trump’s domestic policy and fiscal priorities.
“I want to thank the members of our House Republican conference for uniting as a team and getting this thing done,” said Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn. “Do not underestimate the Republican majority in the House, the mighty majority in the House.”
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