The Medicaid Axe is About To Fall. We Asked a Group of MAHA, MAGA & Independent Parents to Weigh In

In today’s episode, what do a group of MAHA, MAGA, and independent moms and dads of children with disabilities think about the changes Republicans in Congress are hashing out right now for Medicaid, as they push to pass President Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill”?

If a healthier America is your top priority, this is a red-alert moment. 

A nonpartisan Congressional estimate finds that the House-passed Medicaid changes would lead to millions of Americans losing health insurance. And just this week, the Republican-controlled Senate released its own draft, proposing even bigger changes that would result in deeper cuts.

With 71 million enrollees, Medicaid is the largest health insurance program in the country, a vital lifeline for both Red and Blue America. 

So what do these parents — who either depend on Medicaid now or expect to in the future — want Republican lawmakers and MAHA leaders to know about the realities of their daily lives? Is this what they voted for? And if not, what will they do about it?

Hosts:

Brinda Adhikari

Tom Johnson

Maggie Bartlett (off this week)

Dr. Mark Abdelmalek

Guests:

Jacqueline Capriotti, health coalition leader, substack author Health Revolution USA, mother of two kids with CF, MAHA advocate

James Cummings, digital engagement strategist, father to children with rare diseases

Sue Teitelbaum, mother of daughter with special needs

Nancy Fuller, MAHA Ohio grassroots, mother to son living with autism

Elizabeth Frost, MAHA grassroots leader Ohio

Dr. Megan Ranney, dean of Yale School of Public Health; ER physician

Dr. Craig Spencer, associate professor Brown University, ER physician, Doctors Without Borders

Dr. Reed Tuckson, founder of Coalition to Build Trust in Health and Science, physician. 

Resources:

https://5calls.org/

https://clairesplacefoundation.org/

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/initiatives/saw-rtw/retain/phase-one

From Jacqueline Capriotti:

https://healthrevolutionusa.substack.com/p/when-trust-the-science-isnt-enough?r=5aqw38&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true

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Got questions? Comments? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at questions@whyshoulditrustyou.net

Chapters

• 0:14 Intro and Headlines: The Battle Over Medicaid
• 3:11 Tom, How Did We Get Here? The Story of This Moment
• 3:50 What is Medicaid?
• 10:41 Waste, Fraud and Abuse
• 12:08 Work Requirements
• 15:56 Provider Taxes
• 18:50 How Will This Impact Americans?
• 20:40 Setting Up The Conversation with MAHA, MAGA, Independents, Health Leaders on Medicaid
• 22:04 Beginning on Conversation: Why Is Talking About Medicaid So Important To You?
• 22:12 Jacqueline Capriotti
• 23:53 Sue Teitelbaum
• 26:01 James Cummings
• 27:41 Nancy Fuller
• 31:04 Question: What Does Medicaid Mean To Your Families?
• 35:16 Question: What Do You Think of the Work Requirements?
• 39:21 Sue: What Defines Able-Bodied?
• 42:42 Dr Reed Tuckson: The Paperwork of This Bill
• 43:45 Elizabeth Frost: Why MAHA Grassroots Cares About Medicaid
• 45:55 Dr. Megan Ranney: Perspective on Medicaid from an ER Doctor
• 48:30 Jacqueline on Work Requirements
• 52:53 Nancy: Why Are They Going So Fast?
• 55:48 Dr Mark Abdelmalek: Do You Trust RFK Jr and Dr Oz On This?
• 56:01 Sue: I Don't Trust Anybody
• 1:01:11 Elizabeth: It's Important to Understand the Political Landscape
• 1:03:22 Question: Is Enough Being Done to Raise Attention on the Medicaid Issue?
• 1:06:29 Dr Craig Spencer on the Bill: How Do We Envision a Better Health Ecosystem?
• 1:12:25 Dr. Mark: If You Lost Medicaid Coverage, What Would Happen?
• 1:16:27 James: It's Down to the Individual.
• 1:19:18 Elizabeth: Preventative Care
• 1:22:50 Question: What Do You Want Your Political Leaders to Know?
• 1:33:32 Elizabeth: Remember Who Voted You In
• 1:35:51 Closing Thoughts
• 1:37:03 Thanks for Listening!