SEATTLE, Wash. – Senator Patty Murray held a press conference discussing the potential impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on health care access. She emphasized the damaging effects of the new law, which was signed on July 4, 2025, by President Trump.
Speaking alongside leaders from the University of Washington Medical Center and Harborview, Murray highlighted that the bill’s cuts would affect hospitals and Americans across states including Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. She stated, “Right now, the impact here at home in our region is going to be significant.”
Murray criticized the Republicans for making health care more expensive and harder to access, regardless of insurance type or care location. The bill makes the largest-ever cuts to Medicaid, known in Washington state as Apple Health, which nearly 2 million people rely on, including the majority of children in 26 of the state’s 39 counties.
The senator noted that Washington will be among the hardest-hit states. Data from the Kaiser Family Foundation estimates a 26% reduction in Medicaid enrollment in Washington. Governor Ferguson has previously echoed these concerns.
Currently, one in five people in Washington are enrolled in Apple Health, underscoring the importance of the program. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act combines tax cuts and increased spending for defense and border security with cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.
