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Political Breakdown

How Health Care Cuts in Trump's Megabill Will Hurt Californians

Lesley McClurg
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U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, (R-Louisiana), speaks to the media after the House narrowly passed a bill forwarding President Donald Trump's agenda at the U.S. Capitol on May 22, 2025, in Washington, D.C. The tax and spending legislation, called the "One, Big, Beautiful Bill" Act, redirects money to the military and border security and includes cuts to Medicaid, education and other domestic programs. Johnson was flanked by House Committee chairmen who helped craft the legislation. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

President Trump’s megabill is now law and it’s sending shockwaves through California’s healthcare system. The legislation makes major cuts to Medicaid, known here as Medi-Cal, which covers about one in three Californians. 

Supporters say the bill reins in government spending. But critics warn it could shutter hospitals and force the state into painful budget choices. KQED Health Correspondent Lesley McClurg is joined by Angela Hart, senior correspondent for KFF Health News, to dig into what’s at stake. 

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