As Medicaid Cuts Loom, California Health Clinics Face Uncertain Future

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KQED

Politics, News, News Commentary

4.6 • 656 Ratings

🗓️ 13 August 2025

⏱️ 55 minutes

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Summary

The Republican spending bill signed into law by President Trump last month slashes an estimated $150 billion in federal Medicaid funding to California over the next 10 years. Nearly 40% percent of Californians rely on Medi-Cal for health coverage, and now millions are expected to fall off the rolls. That’s leaving medical providers bracing for impacts, especially in places already struggling to serve all who need care. We talk to heads of clinics in the Central Valley, Shasta County and Los Angeles to hear how they’re coping. Guests: Mitesh Popat, chief executive officer, Venice Family Clinic David Quackenbush, president and chief executive officer, Golden Valley Health Centers Jo Campbell, chief executive officer, Hill Country Community Clinic Miranda Dietz, interim director, Health Care Program, UC Berkeley Labor Center Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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0:00.0	It's so funny because when you look at the guys, that's never a topic of conversation. Yeah. What you look like? Yeah. Did you watch the football last night? It's never about, I'll watch your skincare routine. Whereas women walk into a room and because we've been taught to be pitted against each other. Yeah. Not always, but sometimes there's, oh my God, you know, I can't. It's a bit of a barrier. Yeah, yeah. and it shouldn't be there.
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1:13.3	Coming up on forum, the massive Republican spending bill President Trump signed into law
1:17.7	slashes an estimated $150 billion in federal Medicaid funding over the next 10 years,
1:23.7	just to California alone.
1:25.7	That means millions here are expected to fall off the roles
1:29.3	as some 40% of Californians rely on Medi-Cal for health coverage.
1:34.3	Healthcare providers are bracing for impacts,
1:37.3	especially in places that are already struggling to serve all who need care.
1:42.3	This hour, we talked to health clinic leaders in the Central Valley, Shasta County, and Los Angeles
1:47.6	to hear how they're preparing.
1:49.9	Join us.
1:55.3	Welcome to Forum.
1:56.7	I'm Mina Kim.
1:58.2	Hospitals and clinics that serve California's Medicaid patients, called Medi-Cal here,
2:03.4	are preparing for impacts from President Trump's spending bill, implementing hiring freezes,
	...

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