DENVER, CO – Today, Healthier Colorado released the following statement from CEO Jake Williams on the signing of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” and its impact on the health of Coloradans:

“The proponents of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) put many of its cuts beyond the next election for a transparently cynical reason: they will be devastating to the health and well-being of Coloradans. However, our polling shows that Colorado voters do not like what’s coming, and we will not stay quiet about their impact and the need to change course.

OBBBA will cut $1.04 trillion from Medicaid over the next ten years and make additional painful cuts to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This will leave hundreds of thousands of Coloradans without health insurance and increase health care costs for everyone in the state:

• • Nearly 200,000 Coloradans will lose their health insurance and access to care.

• • Hospitals and clinics – especially those in rural parts of the state – will be forced to close due to the rise in uncompensated care they must provide.

• • These closures will eliminate thousands of health care jobs in communities across the state and decrease access to health services for everyone, regardless of insurance type.

• • Coloradans with coverage through the ACA will lose enhanced tax credits, forcing thousands to pay more or lose coverage altogether.

OBBBA also slashes food assistance for the most vulnerable Coloradans, decreasing their access to food and harming their economic security:

• • 298,000 Coloradans will lose all or some of their SNAP benefits as a result of the law, according to the Urban Institute.

• • Without this critical food assistance, children and families will go hungry and face an increased risk of adverse health outcomes due to inadequate nutrition.

Leading up to the final votes, Coloradans were clear that they do not support the Medicaid and SNAP cuts included in this bill. According to our recent statewide poll:

• • 73% of voters said they wanted Congress to either maintain or increase Medicaid spending.

• • 75% said they wanted Congress to either maintain or increase SNAP spending.

• • 77% of voters said Medicaid was important for people in their local community, including 71% of Republicans.

Still, Colorado’s four Republican members of Congress voted in favor of terminating their constituents’ health care and nutrition benefits, and OBBBA is officially federal law.

Now, it’s time for Coloradans to take care of Coloradans.

Our state can lead the way in developing innovative solutions to mitigate the negative impacts of OBBBA. Colorado’s leaders must come together and find ways to protect the health of the communities that will be hit hardest by this law, from the Western Slope to the Front Range to the Eastern Plains.

Given the state’s already challenging financial circumstances, we know this will not be easy. Tough decisions will have to be made. But our health, as individuals and as a community, must be prioritized, and Coloradans are now looking to our local and state leaders to find a way forward.”