Minnesota Gov. Walz Highlights Medicaid Cuts Threatening 140,000 Coverage

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz marked the 60th anniversary of Medicaid and Medicare by declaring July 30, 2025, as Medicaid and Medicare Day, while warning about the serious impacts of recent federal Medicaid funding cuts signed into law by President Trump. The new legislation introduces work requirements and more frequent eligibility checks, which state officials estimate could cause over 140,000 Minnesotans to lose Medicaid coverage by early 2027. The state is also expected to lose more than $1 billion in federal Medicaid funding over the next four years, which could increase hospital costs and place greater strain on health care providers. Governor Walz criticized the federal bill as a "cruel, unneeded piece of legislation" that will exacerbate health care challenges, especially for low-income adults without children. Republicans, including Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer and Rep. Pete Stauber, defend the bill as protecting vulnerable populations and encouraging workforce participation. Health care leaders warn that the cuts risk destabilizing the system, leading to more patients arriving sicker and later to emergency departments, thereby increasing overall costs and administrative burdens.