BREWSTER, Wash. – After talking with leaders from Three Rivers Hospital in Brewster on Tuesday, Washington’s 4th Congressional District Representative Dan Newhouse was met by a crowd of constituents demanding answers on his decision to vote for H.R.1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
The Kaiser Family Foundation projects that Washington will lose between $28 and $46 billion of its Medicaid funding over the next ten years with the new legislation. The state Health Care Authority and the Washington State Nurses Association expect at least 200,000 in the state to lose their health coverage by the end of 2027.
Newhouse said he doesn’t think this will happen.
“I would not agree with that prediction,” Newhouse said. “I think what we’re trying to do is make sure the program, Medicaid, is viable and can continue on into the future so that it can continue providing for those people.”
Cascade PBS reports that 14 rural hospitals in Washington, including Three Rivers, are at risk of closing because of the cuts, which could force patients to drive miles out of town to get care.
When asked if he would work to protect rural hospitals, Newhouse said, “Absolutely. My goal is to make sure all of our rural hospitals can remain open and continue to provide necessary care to our rural residents.”
When asked if he could ensure that none of his constituents will lose their Medicaid, Newhouse responded, “I can tell you that every person that should be receiving Medicaid will continue to get Medicaid.”
