ABC · updated 2026-10-15

Paused Patients Behind the Cuts

See how ABC are framing this — we run every side, so you decide. News for humans, not bots: serious, civil discussion among real people, with the context and facts you need. Don't just watch: be on the air with your own video takes, polls and predictions.

ABC

“PAUSED PATIENTS BEHIND THE CUTS”

covered 2026-10-15 ▶ Be on the air with ABC

Watch the moment

ABC 7 News - WJLA

ABC 7 News - WJLA

WTOP News

Add your voice

Polls, predictions & fact-checks we ran live across networks — your take joins the running tally, compared across every network.

CBO estimated proposed Medicaid cuts at over $800 billion over 10 years

Sickle cell gene therapy can cost up to $3.1 million per patient.

Two FDA-approved gene therapies — Casgevy (~$2.2M) and Lyfgenia (~$3.1M) — offer potential cures but rank among the world's priciest treatments. Most sickle cell patients depend on Medicaid, making federal funding cuts a direct threat to access.

Reagan's 1981 Medicaid cuts dropped 700,000 from coverage.

The 1981 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act slashed Medicaid funding. Later studies found those cuts correlated with measurable increases in mortality and delayed care among low-income patients nationwide.

Topic poll · all networksWhich Medicaid cut consequence concerns you most?

  • Loss of home care services 0%
  • Gaps in mental health coverage 0%
  • Reduced access to specialists 0%
  • Cuts to children's health plans 0%

Be the first to weigh in

Medicaid has covered low-income Americans since 1965!

Signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, Medicaid now serves over 80 million Americans. Federal funding cuts can directly pause or halt care for enrolled patients. Learn more at Wikipedia

Topic poll · all networksWhich CDC funding cut consequence hits patients hardest?

  • Losing local outreach programs 0%
  • Fewer disease tracking efforts 0%
  • Specialist care deserts grow 0%
  • Research pipelines shut down 0%

Be the first to weigh in

…and 2 more when you're on the air.

The conversation

No comments yet — be the first to add your voice when you're on the air. Civil, moderated, bot-free.

LIVE ROOMS Rooms open during live coverage 1 channel ▾
ABC ▶ Be on the air