Written by Tanya Terry, with photos by Tanya Terry
Featured photo: (left to right) – Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) standing, Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08) and Clarence Pierce, CEO of Hamilton Community Health Network
On Wednesday, March 19, Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Clarence Pierce, CEO of Hamilton Community Health Network, talked to a group of concerned community members about the future of Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security in Flint. The critical roundtable discussion, in which many leaders of local organizations were able to ask questions, was held at the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan.
Slotkin updated attendees on what is happening in Washington and that could directly impact healthcare, Social Security and/or programs local residents are served by, work in or care about. She pointed out that President Donald Trump assigned billionaire Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to cut federal spending with the goal of freeing up $6 trillion. The money is intended to be used for three things: to increase security at the southern border, to increase national security and to prolong his 2017 tax cuts for $4 trillion.
Slotkin noted there is no way for the math to work on Trump proposals without significant cuts to Medicaid, which is intended to provide health coverage to low income individuals.
“There are 10 million people in the state of Michigan; 2.6 million are on Medicaid for their principal insurance,” she added. “That includes 280,000 children right in our communities that are on Medicaid as their health insurance.”
Slotkin also said 3% of nursing homes are dependent on Medicaid funding, and she noted a significant portion of Michigan nursing home residents rely on Medicaid for their care costs. Additionally, she said Medicaid is used to help hospital patients and hospitals.
“I think it’s important that whether it’s about our healthcare or our Social Security, about tarriffs or about cuts to the VA, that we as Michiganders call all the strikes,” Slotkin said.
Slotkin pointed out that although some political leaders may scream their points, she is instead about taking action to obtain intended results.
On March 14, the Senate voted to fund the government through Sept. 30.
Slotkin shared with the press after the event that she and her team had created a PowerPoint presentation that would be shared with Governor Gretchen Whitmer and any other influential group or individual possible.
Slotkin also encouraged those in attendance and other concerned citizens to communicate with state and local government officials.
“We have a team that works statewide,” Slotkin noted. “We have a person who I can’t quite announce yet, but who’s going to be representing me in Flint, Saginaw, Bay City, Midland, that whole general area, that whole Congressional district that Kristen represents and you will have like a one-stop shop person to call.”
McDonald Rivet said Social Security is the largest single item in the federal budget, adding it accounts for about 20% of its funds. McDonald Rivet added that when looking at ways to cut $6 trillion from the budget, ignoring that 20% is “next to impossible.”
42% of Whitmer’s proposed budget stems from federal funds, according to Budget Director Jen Flood.
“I think most importantly is we need to, again, be very real about what this means, not just for individuals, but for the entire community,” McDonald Rivet said. “You all know that we’re already in a state of-I describe it as mental health crisis in Michigan. We do not have the coverage we need for the mental health issues we already have. You can imagine how much of mental health is paid by Medicaid.”
McDonald Rivet made attendees who didn’t know aware that her website has a portal where her constituents can submit information about how they have been impacted by the Trump administration’s recent actions.
“The proposed policy changes that are being discussed by the federal government would have a negative impact on our Medicaid patients,” stated Clarence Pierce, CEO of Hamilton Community Health Network.
He added: “We estimate in our forecast that up to 25% of Hamilton’s patient population could be impacted by the cuts – as they will lose their coverage. That will result in additional cuts in the Affordable Care Act – Insurance Marketplace, which we show a forecast of about a15% increase in the number of people who will lose their Medicaid and be uninsured. For Hamilton, this will essentially create a $1.5 million deficit. This is not something that we can sustain indefinitely and will have a significant impact on our patient population, the people we serve.”
Pierce said despite the proposed cuts, Hamilton was committed to provide essential services and access to healthcare for all.
A large portion of Michigan’s Medicaid funding comes from federal matching funds.
In addition to numerous other areas being impacted by federal revenue, of the $28.3 billion medical services and behavioral health budget, 70% was funded by federal revenue according to a December 25, 2024 budget briefing at https://www.house.mi.gov/ notes.
