‘Beautiful’ for Billionaires, Deadly for Everyone Else
How a Midnight Vote and a Billionaire Tax Scam Could Shut Down America’s Hospitals and Leave Millions Without Care
Opinion by Friendo Media Editorial Staff
Imagine: You live in a rural community. You enjoy backyard barbeques with friends and family, you enjoy the simple things God has given you. And one day, sitting on your couch and your arm starts to feel numb and tingly. You start to feel pressure in your chest. You’re likely having a heart attack. You reach to call 911.
“911 Operator, how can I assist?” The operator tells you.
“I’m having a heart attack! Please send help!” You beg. Years ago when your father fell and broke his hip, the ambulance got to you within 10 minutes. But now?
“I’m sorry, sir, we don’t have an ambulance to send in that region. You’ll have to drive to your closest hospital. It looks like the one closest to you just shut down because of budget cuts, so you’ll have to go to the one in your nearest city.”
You realize you live 100 miles from a city. You could never make it there in time. The realization that you’re about to die sets in. But the bright side?
Trump’s friends are a little richer because of your sacrifice.
This will soon be a reality for millions of people in the U.S. House of Representatives has passed the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," a sweeping legislative package that was passed by a narrow majority in the early morning hours of the night. Why was it passed at such an ungodly hour? Because Republicans knew it was grossly unpopular and they needed to act like super villains, striking their victims in the dark of night.
If enacted, it would inflict devastating harm on millions of Americans by slashing funding for Medicaid and Medicare. This bill, masquerading as a tax reform initiative, prioritizes tax breaks for the wealthy while dismantling critical health care programs that serve the nation's most vulnerable populations.
A Direct Attack on Medicaid
The bill proposes nearly $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), aiming to "achieve savings" by implementing stricter eligibility checks and expanded work requirements. These measures are projected to result in 14 million Americans losing health care coverage and 3 million households losing food assistance. The bill also introduces a cap on home equity limits for Medicaid long-term care eligibility at $1 million, without adjusting for inflation, potentially disqualifying many seniors from receiving necessary care.
Medicare Cuts Through the Back Door
While the bill doesn't explicitly cut Medicare, it sets the stage for automatic reductions. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the bill's increase in the national debt would trigger $500 billion in automatic Medicare cuts under the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, beginning in 2026. These cuts would jeopardize care for many who manage to keep their health coverage, stripping low-income Medicare beneficiaries of critical financial assistance and making it harder for them to pay for care and prescription drugs.
Disproportionate Impact on Vulnerable Populations
The bill's provisions would have a disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations, including older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income families. By imposing new out-of-pocket cost requirements on some Medicaid enrollees and driving up premiums and cost-sharing for people with marketplace plans, the bill would raise costs and jeopardize care for many who manage to keep their health coverage.
Economic Consequences
Beyond the human toll, the bill's cuts to Medicaid and SNAP could have severe economic consequences. A study by the Commonwealth Fund estimates that these cuts could lead to the loss of 1.03 million jobs nationwide in health care, food-related industries, and other sectors, and a $113 billion reduction in states' GDPs by 2026.
The "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" is a misnomer; there's nothing beautiful about stripping health care and food assistance from millions of Americans to fund tax breaks for the wealthy. As the bill moves to the Senate, lawmakers must consider the devastating impact it would have on everyday Americans and reject this assault on our nation's health care system.
If the proposed bill to drastically cut Medicaid and Medicare funding is enacted, it will almost certainly trigger a wave of hospital closures across the United States—especially in rural, underserved, and economically marginalized areas. Here's how and why:
1. Medicaid and Medicare Keep Many Hospitals Afloat
More than 60% of hospital revenue in many states comes from public insurance programs like Medicaid and Medicare. These programs are the primary payers for elderly, disabled, and low-income patients. When funding is slashed:
Hospitals lose a reliable source of reimbursement for services already provided.
Facilities that operate on tight margins—like community hospitals and safety-net hospitals—cannot absorb these losses.
As a result, many will cut services, lay off staff, or close altogether.
📉 According to the American Hospital Association (AHA), more than 30% of rural hospitals are already at risk of closure. Drastic Medicaid cuts would increase that risk exponentially.
2. Rural and Safety-Net Hospitals Will Be Hit First
Rural and urban safety-net hospitals serve populations that are heavily reliant on Medicaid and Medicare. They also have little to no private insurance income to offset losses. Without federal reimbursement:
Maternity wards, ICUs, mental health units, and ERs are often the first to close.
In many rural communities, there is only one hospital within 30+ miles. Closure can be the difference between life and death in emergencies.
🏥 For example, Atlanta Medical Center, a vital safety-net hospital, closed in 2022 due to financial stress worsened by low reimbursement rates and uncompensated care. Cuts like those in the bill will replicate this outcome across the country.
3. Emergency Care Will Become Harder to Access
When hospitals close, emergency departments vanish with them. This leads to:
Increased travel times during emergencies (heart attacks, strokes, trauma).
Overcrowding in nearby hospitals.
Longer wait times and worse patient outcomes.
Greater strain on emergency medical services (EMS) and ambulance networks.
🚨 A Health Affairs study found that hospital closures in rural areas increased mortality from time-sensitive conditions by up to 6%.
4. Job Losses and Economic Collapse in Local Communities
Hospitals are often the largest employers in small towns and counties. When they shut down:
Thousands of health care and support staff lose their jobs.
The local economy—dependent on those workers—declines rapidly.
Businesses that rely on hospital traffic (pharmacies, clinics, restaurants) also shut down.
📊 The Chartis Center for Rural Health estimates that each rural hospital closure leads to an average of 170 lost jobs and a $22 million annual loss to the local economy.
5. Who Will Suffer Most?
Cuts to Medicaid and Medicare don’t just hurt "the system"—they hurt real people:
Elderly patients who can’t get dialysis or skilled nursing care.
Pregnant women in rural counties with no maternity ward.
Veterans who rely on Medicaid for long-term care.
Children with disabilities who lose access to specialty services.
🔁 These closures perpetuate a cycle of inequality: the most vulnerable are the first to lose access, and those communities are the last to recover.
The bill that guts Medicaid and Medicare is more than a budget document—it’s a blueprint for mass hospital closures, especially in places where healthcare is already fragile. If it passes, millions of Americans will wake up to find their nearest ER shuttered, their trusted clinic boarded up, and their local economy in free fall.
Hospitals are more than buildings. They are lifelines. This bill would cut them off.
📉 Hospitals on the Brink
432 rural hospitals are currently vulnerable to closure, with 46% operating at a loss. States like Texas, Kansas, and Mississippi are among the hardest hit.
In 2023, 28 rural communities lost inpatient care, marking a record-breaking year for rural healthcare facility closures.
🏥 Consequences of Hospital Closures
Job Losses: The closure of a single rural hospital results in a median loss of 220 hospital jobs and 73 additional community jobs, severely impacting local economies
Increased Mortality: Research indicates that mortality rates increase not only in areas where rural hospitals close but also in neighboring urban areas, due to delayed treatment and longer transport times.
Rising Healthcare Costs: Hospital closures lead to a 3.6% increase in prices at surviving hospitals, driven by larger price markups and reduced competition .
👶 Impact on Maternal and Pediatric Care
Between 2011 and 2023, 293 rural hospitals ceased providing obstetrics services, creating "maternity care deserts" and forcing expectant mothers to travel long distances for care.
The closure of birthing units in rural areas has been linked to decreased prenatal care visits and increased risks of premature births and complications.
🧓 Threats to Elderly and Long-Term Care
Approximately 60-70% of nursing home residents rely on Medicaid. Proposed cuts could lead to widespread closures of these facilities, leaving seniors without essential 24/7 care options .
But how do we do it?
1. Call Your Representatives—Daily
📞 ACTION: Call your U.S. Senators and House Representative.
Use congress.gov or call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 to be connected.
Script: “Hi, my name is [Your Name] and I’m a constituent from [City, State]. I’m calling to strongly oppose the bill that cuts Medicaid and Medicare. This legislation will devastate healthcare access for millions—including seniors, children, and disabled people in our state. Please vote NO.”
Pro Tip: Call every day. Congressional offices track constituent calls—volume matters.
2. Write Letters to the Editor
📰 Local news still matters to lawmakers.
Submit a short, passionate letter to your local newspaper.
Example opening line: “If Congress passes this bill, hospitals in our region could close, and thousands will lose access to care.”
Keep it 150-250 words. Mention your representative by name to increase pressure.
3. Attend Town Halls or Host One
🎤 Make noise publicly.
Check townhallproject.com or your rep’s social media for upcoming in-person or virtual events.
Ask hard questions. Bring signs. Share stories.
No events? Organize your own and invite your member of Congress—and the press.
4. Join or Support Health Advocacy Groups
🤝 Act with others.
Groups like Protect Our Care, Families USA, Center for Medicare Advocacy, and Indivisible are fighting this bill.
Sign up for email alerts, attend events, amplify their messaging, or donate if you can.
5. Flood Social Media
📣 Go viral with facts.
Use hashtags like #SaveMedicaid, #HandsOffMedicare, and #HealthcareIsAHumanRight.
Tag your representatives and share personal stories or key stats.
Post short videos—lawmakers and reporters watch what's trending.
6. Pressure Governors and State Officials
🏛️ They can sway federal lawmakers.
Medicaid is state-administered. Call your governor, state legislators, and Medicaid director.
Urge them to publicly oppose the bill and demand their U.S. Senators reject it.
📬 Sample Letter to Your State Legislators
Subject: Oppose Medicaid and Medicare Cuts to Protect Our Hospitals and Communities
Dear Senator/Representative [Last Name],
I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the proposed $700 billion in cuts to Medicaid and the potential $500 billion in automatic Medicare reductions under the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." These cuts threaten to devastate our healthcare system, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
Currently, 432 rural hospitals are at risk of closure, with nearly half operating at a loss. The closure of these facilities would not only eliminate critical healthcare services but also result in significant job losses and economic decline in our communities.
Moreover, the elimination of obstetrics services in nearly 300 rural hospitals has already created maternity care deserts, endangering the health of mothers and infants. The proposed cuts would exacerbate these issues, leaving our most vulnerable populations without access to essential care.
I urge you to oppose these detrimental cuts and advocate for policies that support and strengthen our healthcare infrastructure. The health and well-being of our communities depend on it.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
7. Organize a Local Protest or Vigil
🕯️ Visible pressure works.🕯️
Even a dozen people in front of a senator’s district office with signs and press releases can make headlines.
Hold a candlelight vigil for lives that would be lost or affected by the cuts. Invite the media.
8. Register Voters & Mobilize for 2025 Elections
🗳️ No votes = no voice.
Make sure you and others are registered to vote at vote.org.
Help elect candidates who will protect health care and support working families.