• Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill' includes severe cuts to Medicaid, estimated to impact 12 million Americans.
• The legislation permanently extends tax cuts that favor wealthy individuals, raising concerns about increased national debt.
• Experts warn that Medicaid cuts will severely affect rural hospitals, potentially leading to their closures.
• Policy mandates include new work requirements for Medicaid recipients, complicating access to healthcare.
• Democrats denounce the bill as detrimental to vulnerable populations, with broad implications for healthcare costs nationwide.

The House of Representatives has passed President Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill', advancing significant changes to the tax system and Medicaid funding. The bill, which passed by a narrow margin of 218-214, includes $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts, expected to affect approximately 12 million Americans by 2034. Critics warn that the expected outcomes include increased costs for healthcare across the United States and major challenges for low-income and elderly citizens who rely on Medicaid, according to HuffPost and India Times.

Trump's legislation not only cuts Medicaid but also makes cuts to the Affordable Care Act that are expected to raise healthcare costs by an average of $1,300 annually for many Americans. Experts emphasize that while the direct impact may seem limited to Medicaid beneficiaries, the financial health of hospitals and clinics that depend on Medicaid funds will also be profoundly affected, leading to potential closures and reduced service quality, according to Al Jazeera and Newsweek.

One notable consequence of the bill is the introduction of new work requirements for Medicaid recipients, mandating that they work at least 80 hours per month. This has raised concerns that many will be unable to meet the requirements, resulting in loss of coverage. Experts highlight that the bureaucratic burden of compliance poses a significant challenge, which could serve as a barrier rather than an incentive to work, according to Newsweek and HuffPost.

The Medicaid cuts especially threaten rural healthcare facilities, which serve a higher proportion of low-income patients dependent on Medicaid. The National Rural Hospital Association has projected that these cuts may lead to significant reductions in funding and could result in the closure of nearly 338 rural hospitals across the U.S. The financial strain could exacerbate healthcare access difficulties in rural areas already grappling with service shortages, according to Al Jazeera and HuffPost.

In defense of the bill, the White House maintains that it strengthens Medicaid, despite cuts targeted at the program. The administration argues that fraudulent expenditures within Medicaid will be eliminated, benefitting the most needy. However, critics like Rep. Jim McGovern and health policy experts contend that these measures will disproportionately harm vulnerable populations and erode the social safety net essential for many Americans, as affirmed by Newsweek and India Times.