WATCH: Iowa is facing a health care crisis. Republicans want to cut Medicaid.

By Amie Rivers

May 29, 2025

Would you rather:

A. Fund tax cuts for billionaires?
OR
B. Keep Medicaid going for millions of Americans?

US House Republicans are picking “A.”

They want to cut at least $880 billion from Medicaid funding to help cover the cost of $4.5 trillion in tax breaks that will mainly help the richest Americans. That would leave more than 8 million people without health insurance across the country.

“Iowa is already facing a health care crisis,” says Ruth Richardson of Planned Parenthood North Central States. Richardson just announced four Planned Parenthood health centers will close within a year in Iowa, leaving only two open.

She says maternal and infant mortality rates are rising and rural health care deserts are growing.

“And while the most vulnerable will feel the impacts first—make no mistake—as emergency rooms are packed by folks who have nowhere else to turn, and specialized providers like OB-GYNs become harder to find, everyone will suffer the consequences of these harmful policies.”

Amie Rivers

Amie Rivers is Iowa Starting Line's newsletter editor. She writes the weekly Worker’s Almanac edition of Iowa Starting Line, featuring a roundup of the worker news you need to know. Previously, she was an award-winning journalist at the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier; now, she very much enjoys making TikToks and memes and getting pet photos in her inbox.

Have a story tip? Reach Amie at [email protected]. For local reporting in Iowa that connects the dots, from policy to people, sign up for Amie's newsletter.

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