U.S. Government shuts down as parties clash over substantial cuts to healthcare

At a minute past midnight, the government shut down after the U.S. Senate failed to reach a continuing resolution to fund the government through November.

Robert Fields | WVOW News

WASHINGTON, D.C. The federal government shut down at midnight after Congress failed to reach a funding agreement.

Republicans refused to roll back provisions set to cut healthcare coverage for millions of Americans, while Democrats rejected any deal that left those provisions in place. The shutdown is the first in nearly seven years.

The dispute centers on healthcare premiums, with policy analysts warning some low-income Americans could see increases of up to 600 percent. Republicans have accused Democrats of using the issue to push for special interests, while Democrats argue protecting access to affordable healthcare is essential.

The shutdown’s impact will depend on which agencies suspend operations and for how long. State Treasurer Larry Pack said the effect on West Virginia will likely be minimal but added that the outcome depends on the scope and duration of the shutdown.

President Trump has suggested substantial layoffs could occur nationwide as a result of the shutdown.

But what could the effect on West Virginians be should the Republican healthcare cuts actually go through?

The West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy hosted a meeting last week in Welch to talk about how President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act is expected to impact healthcare on the local level. According to group members, the state of West Virginia will see its portion of federal healthcare funding drop by about one billion dollars per year once the bill is actively implemented.

The Center on Budget and Policy says eight thousand McDowell County residents are on Medicaid, around 2,300 of those got their coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion.

Group members and McDowell County residents are concerned over the potential impact those cuts may have on rural healthcare, especially at a facility like Welch Community Hospital. That facility is considered a “top Medicaid provider,” according to data submitted to the U.S. Senate by University of North Carolina’s Center for Health Services Research.

However, state officials have a different outlook. McDowell County Delegate David Green said last week that Welch Community Hospital has been moving in a positive direction, and he believes it will continue to do so.

Meanwhile, according to Governor Patrick Morrisey’s office, West Virginia will soon be sending in its application for the federal Rural Health Transformation Program.

The program was built into the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to help the most at-risk states maintain and build on local healthcare as the federal cuts are implemented. It will provide $100 million over five years to each of the 25 states selected by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Governor Morrisey said it is important for West Virginia to secure the funding, which he said could be used to improve healthcare access and support jobs in rural communities.

The public comment period wrapped up on Monday. The state’s application is due on November 5th.

Around 500,000 West Virginians are on Medicaid. Current estimates place about 55,000 of those residents losing their coverage as those cuts take effect.