Senator Mark Kelly Hosts Sierra Vista Town Hall Thursday
- sierravistalive
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
On Thursday afternoon, Senator Mark Kelly convened a town hall at the Chiricahua Community Health Center in Sierra Vista to engage with residents about proposed changes to Medicaid and food assistance benefits. This event is part of Senator Kelly's ongoing efforts to gather constituent feedback amid national discussions on healthcare and economic policies.
A central focus of the town hall was the potential impact of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill proposes modifications to Medicaid, including work requirements, eligibility, and funding adjustments and SNAP eligibility and funding requirements.
Changes to Medicaid:
Work Requirements: Able-bodied adults aged 19 to 64 without dependents would be required to complete at least 80 hours per month of work, education, or community service to maintain Medicaid eligibility.
Eligibility Redeterminations: States would need to verify Medicaid recipients' eligibility every six months instead of the the current annual review.
Federal Funding Adjustments: The federal matching rate for Medicaid expansion enrollees would decrease from 90% to 80% starting in fiscal year 2028, increasing the financial responsibility of states.
Senator Kelly emphasized that Arizona’s Medicaid program—known locally as “ACCESS,” largely funded by the federal government—could lose hundreds of millions of dollars. He expressed concern that the proposed adjustments could lead to significant coverage losses and increased administrative burdens for both recipients and state agencies with the added eligibility redeterminations and funding adjustments.
The bill mandates that able-bodied adults without dependents, up to 64 years old, must engage in at least 20 hours per week of work or job training to maintain SNAP eligibility. Previously, these requirements applied to individuals up to age 49. Additionally, the bill reduces exemptions for caregivers, requiring single parents with children aged 7 and older to meet work requirements, whereas married couples can qualify if only one parent is working.
The legislation limits states' ability to waive work requirements in areas with high unemployment or insufficient job opportunities. This change could lead to stricter enforcement of work requirements nationwide.
Starting in fiscal year 2028, states would be required to cover at least 5% of SNAP benefit costs and 75% of administrative costs. Currently, the federal government covers the majority of these expenses.
It's important to note that while Social Security itself is not cut, the bill's broader fiscal implications and changes to related programs like Medicare and Medicaid could indirectly affect beneficiaries.
Attendees at the town hall shared personal stories and concerns regarding the proposed changes. Healthcare providers and beneficiaries voiced apprehension about the potential loss of coverage and the challenges of meeting new requirements.