Proposed Medicaid cuts spark concern across Yuma County
Samuel Kirk
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A new federal budget proposal backed by President Donald Trump is raising alarm bells across Arizona, especially in Yuma County, where nearly one in three residents rely on Medicaid for their health care.
The proposal aims to cut federal funding for Medicaid and nutrition assistance programs nationwide, giving states more control over how those services are run. Supporters argue the shift could improve efficiency, but many locals say the move would hurt the most vulnerable.
“It’s gonna get worse, that’s for sure,” said Yuma resident Guillermo Coronado. “I just don’t know what this guy is thinking.”
Another local, Cynthia Leon, worries about the practical impact of reducing access to affordable care.
“I think there are a lot of lower-income people who deserve the assistance and need it for good health,” she said. “So yes, I do think it will affect a lot of people.”
David Lara, a local business owner and County Recorder, sees some merit in trimming waste from the system, so long as it doesn’t affect essential care.
“When you eliminate fraud and abuse and waste, you’re actually not cutting from the programs,” Lara said. “You’re only making it more efficient. You’re taking that money and giving it to where the people actually need it.”
Dr. Robert Trenschel, CEO of Onvida Health, says recent revisions to the proposal have softened some of the most troubling requirements, but that doesn’t mean local hospitals are in the clear.
“Many of the more bothersome or worrisome requirements were taken out of the bill, so we’re appreciative of that,” Trenschel said. “But we don’t know what’s going to get thrown into the bill in the Senate. So I think…caution is the way forward.”
For hospitals like Onvida, where budgets are already tight, even small cuts could have major consequences.
“It’s a constant struggle for organizations that really operate on very thin margins and provide an essential service to the community,” Trenschel added. “If we’re not here doing what we do, people have to go 180 miles to Phoenix or San Diego to get that care.”
Lawmakers are still debating the future of the budget proposal, and it remains unclear how it will change as it moves through the U.S. Senate.
In the meantime, many in Yuma County are bracing for what could be a significant shift in the healthcare safety net