Top 5 Things to Know About MDA’s Efforts to Protect Medicaid

In 2025, MDA’s advocacy team has focused on protecting Medicaid from Congressional budget cuts. We know many in the MDA community have questions about why Medicaid is important, current threats to the program, and how community members can get involved.

We sat down with MDA’s Director of Advocacy Engagement, Mark Fisher, to learn the latest.

Why is Medicaid important to those living with a disability?

Mark Fisher, MDA Director of Advocacy Engagement

Medicaid is a lifeline, covering 2 in 5 non-elderly adults living with a disability. It provides medical care, coverage for prescription drugs and therapies, home healthcare and durable medical equipment, and much more. For millions of Americans, Medicaid is vital to living an independent life.

Why is Medicaid under threat by Congress? What is the latest news?

Congress is trying to substantially reduce government spending and is looking to cut programs. Due to the breadth of the program, Medicaid has become a target. Recently, Congress passed a budget resolution, or instructions, which tasked the Senate Finance Committee to cut $1.5 trillion in federal government spending, and the House Energy & Commerce Committee to cut $880 billion to their programs. Both of these committees oversee Medicaid and are looking to help achieve these spending cuts by slashing Medicaid.

But I keep hearing that the budget resolution doesn’t mention Medicaid. What’s really going on?

While the budget resolution may not have specifically mentioned Medicaid, we are very concerned they will ultimately have to make dramatic cuts to Medicaid in order to achieve their goals for spending cuts. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), it is impossible to enact cuts of this magnitude without significantly impacting Medicaid. In the end, there is no way to cut the amount of spending Congress wants to cut and not touch Medicaid. The numbers just do not add up.

How could people on Medicaid be affected?

Cuts to the program would jeopardize millions of Americans’ access to healthcare. Those living with neuromuscular diseases would face a delay in obtaining treatments, be unable to afford life-saving medication, and have greater difficulty finding the in-home care assistance they need to thrive. More families might enter medical debt in order to make ends meet. Medicaid enables people navigating these diseases to live more independently by providing the support they need in their personal and professional lives. Major cuts to Medicaid would be disastrous for people who rely on the Medicaid program for their healthcare and independence.

Is this a done deal? What is next in our effort to protect Medicaid?

Even though Congress passed a budget resolution instructing cuts to Medicaid, the fight to protect Medicaid is far from over. Now the hard part begins, as Congress must specifically write into legislation how they want to achieve these spending cuts, including how they plan to make cuts to the Medicaid program. There is still plenty of time to urge our lawmakers to stop these potential Medicaid cuts!

How can I learn more and get involved in protecting Medicaid?

MDA has put together a few handy resources to learn more, including:

• MDA Advocacy Institute: Protecting Medicaid
• Fact Sheet on Protecting Medicaid
• MDA Quest Podcast about Protecting Medicaid

Also, there are many ways to get involved in our effort to protect Medicaid! The first step is to visit our dedicated website at MDA.org/Medicaid to get started. On our website, you can learn more about our efforts to protect Medicaid and easily contact your lawmakers urging them to protect the program. Your voice matters!