Press Release: CAFP Condemns Senate Passage of H.R.1 Reconciliation Package and Deep Medicaid Cuts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 2, 2025

The Colorado Academy of Family Physicians (CAFP) strongly condemns the Senate’s passage of its reconciliation package for H.R.1, which includes devastating cuts to Medicaid that threaten the health and economic security of families across Colorado.

We are calling on Colorado’s Republican Representatives—and the entire Congressional Delegation—to reject this dangerous proposal and stand firm in protecting the health and well-being of their constituents. The consequences of these cuts are real, and they will be felt most acutely in rural communities, underserved areas, and among families already struggling to access care.

If enacted, these cuts would strip health coverage from approximately 123,643 Coloradans¹—including children, people with disabilities, and older adults—while pushing rural hospitals and safety net clinics to the brink of collapse, which would have devastating effects for the communities they serve and economies they support. Already, nearly 1 in 4 rural hospitals in Colorado are at risk of closure², and financial modeling suggests that these cuts could force at least 3 additional rural hospitals to shut their doors by 2026³. In communities like Otero County, which is represented by Republican Congressman Jeff Hurd (CD-3), nearly 50% of residents rely on Medicaid. Hospital layoffs and service reductions have already begun there in anticipation of federal funding losses⁴.

These harmful provisions also threaten to raise health insurance premiums for everyone, putting coverage out of reach for even more Coloradans and further raising the number of uninsured. The bill cuts premium tax credits for Coloradans, and will cause an estimated 112,000 people in the state to lose health coverage⁵.

Last week, CAFP leadership and Colorado family physicians traveled to Washington, D.C. to urge lawmakers to protect Medicaid and stand up for primary care. As part of the Family Medicine Advocacy Summit (FMAS), our delegation joined over 300 family physicians from across the country to meet with members of Congress and discuss the issues at stake. The Colorado delegation met with staff from eight of our congressional offices and left critical information with two additional offices.

We urge all CAFP members—especially those living and practicing in Republican-led House districts—to contact their representative today and demand that they oppose any reconciliation package that includes Medicaid cuts. The health of our patients, our communities, and the future of family medicine in Colorado depends on it.

Corey Lyon, DO, FAAFP
President, Colorado Academy of Family Physicians

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Media Contact:
Emily Bishop
Director of Communications & Member Engagement
Colorado Academy of Family Physicians
emily@coloradoafp.org

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References:
¹Joint Economic Committee – Minority. “State-by-State Data: 13.7 Million People Would Lose Health Insurance From Medicaid, ACA Cuts.” U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee – Minority, May 15, 2025, https://www.jec.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/d5fb1359-92a6-47ac-8fae-aeffb1de2f6e/jec-fact-sheet-on-state-by-state-impacts-of-health-care-cuts.pdf.

²Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform. “Rural Hospitals at Risk of Closing.” CHQPR, May 2023, https://chqpr.org/downloads/Rural_Hospitals_at_Risk_of_Closing.pdf.

³Families USA. “Federal Medicaid Cuts Would Force Rural Hospitals to the Brink of Closure.” Families USA, June 25, 2025, https://familiesusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Rural-Hospital-Medicaid-Analysis.pdf.

⁴Daley, John. “A Key Rural Hospital in La Junta Is Laying People Off With Deep Federal Medicaid Cuts Looming.” Colorado Public Radio, June 27, 2025, https://www.cpr.org/2025/06/27/la-junta-hospital-lay-offs-medicaid-cuts/.

⁵Connect for Health Colorado. “Protecting Affordable Health Coverage for Coloradans.” Connect for Health Colorado, May 16, 2025, https://connectforhealthco.com/protecting-affordable-health-coverage-for-coloradans/.