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President Donald Trump’s one big beautiful bill has been
criticized by Democrats like Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who
claims “people will die.”
“We have critical access hospitals across central and southern
Illinois that I would be surprised if we don’t see closures of
hospitals,” Pritzker said in Peoria July 1. “I would not be at
all surprised to see several hospitals close.”
Christian Maxwell, a Republican running for Illinois’ 1st
Congressional District, said Democrats are fearmongering and
rural hospitals will get support in the federal legislation.
“There is a $50 billion allocation in the big beautiful bill to
help those hospitals to access much needed funding to invest in
things like equipment and all of that,” Maxwell told The Center
Square.
The Illinois Health and Hospital Association warned estimated
reductions in federal funds for health care could lead to fewer
people accessing treatment and thousands of laid off medical
personnel.
“Slashing its funding would not only harm patients but also
decimate local economies and push hospitals closer to collapse,”
said a statement from IHA opposing the measure.
Supporters of the legislation say Medicaid is meant to be a
safety net and not a replacement for self-sufficiency.
Maxwell said what the law does is require able bodied people
wanting Medicaid to either work or do community service for 20
hours a week so they can contribute.
“Why do we need them to contribute to their own care? Because
there are disabled, there are elderly and there are children who
absolutely need to have access to that program and the funding
that is attached to Medicaid and [the Affordable Care Act], that
is not endless funding,” Maxwell said.
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