[The following is a paid advertisement.]

As we anticipate Gov. JB Pritzker’s Feb. 17 budget address, one thing is sure: H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, will have a negative impact. Just last month, University of Illinois’ Institute of Government and Public Affairs noted that “federal policy changes are expected to decrease health-care-related funding and pose a serious long-term challenge for Illinois.”

They also pose serious challenges for hospitals and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Our state’s hospitals are 24/7 care providers, major employers and economic engines in the communities they serve. They partner with FQHCs to ensure seamless continuity of care. Yet many Illinois hospitals are struggling to survive in the face of rising costs and H.R. 1’s massive cuts. According to KFF, those cuts in Illinois will amount to:

• A 19% decrease from 10-year federal baseline Medicaid spending—one of the highest percentage reductions in the U.S.
• Up to $57 billion in lost Medicaid funding over 10 years.

The expected Medicaid cuts aren’t just about money; they’re about individual lives. Many Illinoisans are struggling financially as food, electricity and housing costs have risen.

Created in 1992, the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program helps hospitals and FQHCs that serve many uninsured and low-income patients invest in needed healthcare services. This spring, legislators will be asked to protect the 340B program—at NO cost to taxpayers and with NO budget appropriation. Patients across Illinois are counting on you. Learn more.