Rep. Bynum vows to fight for Medicaid restoration after major cuts

OREGON CITY, Ore. (KOIN) — Leaders in Oregon and Washington D.C. are working to figure out how the President's tax and spend bill will affect patients on Medicaid for their healthcare.

Almost a million and a half Oregonians are enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan, the state's Medicaid program.

Right now, healthcare providers are bracing for cuts that could affect their patients as a consequence of the passage of President Donald Trump's so-called "Big Beautiful Bill."

Oregon Democratic Congresswoman Janelle Bynum was in Oregon City on Tuesday at a Neighborhood Health Center to talk about what's ahead. 

Neighborhood Health Centers in Oregon serve tens of thousands of patients, providing primary care, mental health and dental care. Their staff worried they may have to cut back services if Medicaid payments are reduced.

Medicaid money flows into the state to help partially fund the Oregon Health Plan

Bynum said she is concerned as well about the extra paperwork Medicaid recipients will have to fill out to reapply for benefits and stricter reporting requirements. She's worried some people with disabilities may not be able to navigate it.

This point of concern comes from the added requirements by Republican members of Congress designed to help make sure those who get the assistance actually qualify and need it.

KOIN 6 News asked Bynum how Democrats plan to get some of that Medicaid funding back, considering they are now the minority party in Washington D.C.

“The way I think of it is like civil rights. We had a long track record of very poor civil rights in this country but you continue to apply the pressure, you continue to elevate the issue and you continue to show the harm that it is doing to our country,” Bynum said.  

Ashley Morales is a mom who gets healthcare through the Neighborhood Health Center. She said she overcame significant struggles, thanks in part to the support she received from the healthcare community.

"Everyone has struggles. We need to be able to lean on our community and our providers and without having that coverage, we're going to see a lot of people suffering," Morales said.

The Oregon Health Plan is expected to be impacted at the individual level in the coming months due to the lack of Medicaid funding. KOIN 6 will continue to track what comes next.