The Medicaid Debate: The Real Impacts of Cuts on Patients & Providers

Medicaid provides health coverage for more than 70 million Americans, including children, veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities. But as Congress works toward a reconciliation bill, proposed cuts totaling $880 billion have raised serious concerns about the program’s future and the impacts on patients and providers.

In this episode, Chip Kahn sits down with Dr. Bruce Siegel, President and CEO of America’s Essential Hospitals, as he reflects on his 15 years of leadership, the critical role of serving uninsured and low-income patients, and the high stakes of the Medicaid debate unfolding in Washington.

Key topics include:

• The evolving role of essential hospitals and the need to serve uninsured and low-income patients;
• Medicaid’s role in the health system and why it is essential for patient care;
• The real-world impact of Medicaid cuts, including consequences for nursing home stays, community-based services, and hospital operations;
• Debunking the misconception that having insurance doesn’t improve health outcomes; and,
• Bruce’s advice for future health care leaders and what’s next for him after America’s Essential Hospitals.

Guest Bio: 

With an extensive background in health care management, policy, and public health, Bruce Siegel, MD, MPH, has the blend of experience necessary to lead America’s Essential Hospitals and its members through the changing health care landscape and into a sustainable future. With more than 350 members, America’s Essential Hospitals is the only national organization representing hospitals committed to serving those who face financial and social barriers to care. 

Since joining America’s Essential Hospitals in 2010, Siegel has dramatically grown the association as it strengthened its advocacy, research, and education efforts. His intimate knowledge of member needs comes in part from his direct experience as president and CEO of two member systems: New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation and Tampa General Healthcare. Just before joining America’s Essential Hospitals, Siegel served as director of the Center for Health Care Quality and professor of health policy at The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services. He also served as New Jersey’s commissioner of health. 

Among his many accomplishments, Siegel led groundbreaking work on quality and equity, with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. He is a past chair of the National Quality Forum board and the National Advisory Council for Healthcare Research and Quality. Modern Healthcare recognized him as one of the “100 Most Influential People in Healthcare” from 2011 to 2019 and 2022 to 2024; among the “50 Most Influential Clinical Executives” in 2022, 2023, and 2024; among the “Top 25 Diversity Leaders in Healthcare” in 2021; one of the “50 Most Influential Physician Executives” from 2012 to 2018; and among the “Top 25 Minority Executives in Healthcare” in 2014 and 2016. He also was named one of the “50 Most Powerful People in Healthcare” by Becker’s Hospital Review in 2013 and 2014. 

Siegel earned a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University, a doctor of medicine from Cornell University Medical College, and a master’s degree in public health from The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health.