Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' impacts MDs, and this surgeon isn't staying quiet—should you?
Key Takeaways
Industry Buzz
“From a breast cancer surgeon’s perspective, there is nothing sadder than when patients come into the office and talk about how they had an issue with coverage … [which then] results in delays to care … delays in treatment, worse oncologic outcomes.” — Kristin Rojas, MD, breast cancer surgeon
“It is unfathomable to see policymakers intentionally inflict so much damage on the people they represent." — Richard Besser, former acting director of the CDC, The Hill
Earlier today, Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” was passed by the Senate. It includes the most significant cuts to Medicaid since its inception in the 1960s, which will impact millions of Americans and the physicians who treat them.[][]
But earlier this week, one breast cancer surgeon, Kristin Rojas, MD, posted a video in which she shared how she was making personal calls to Congress between cases. Her message: This bill will directly harm her patients with breast cancer—not to mention the millions of people who are dependent on Medicaid.
By picking up the phone, she was doing what many physicians may soon need to consider: advocating not just in the clinic, but in the political arena.
Dr. Rojas’ video highlights a form of quiet but urgent advocacy—one that doesn’t require a press conference or a formal campaign, but rather a willingness to speak up when the system threatens to fail the people doctors serve.
Here’s what passed—and what it means for you
The newly passed bill allows states to implement work requirements for Medicaid and cut state-imposed taxes on health providers.[] States tax healthcare providers to increase their Medicaid contributions, which are then redirected to hospitals through higher reimbursements. Health policy experts warn that these changes could lead to sweeping coverage losses and reimbursement declines.
In a statement, published today in The Hill, Richard Besser, former acting director of the CDC, laid out some of the worst impacts of the funding cuts: “Seniors will struggle to afford long-term care. People with disabilities will lose critical healthcare coverage that allows them to work and live independently. Rural communities across America will be decimated from hospital closures, and people will lose their lives … It is unfathomable to see policymakers intentionally inflict so much damage on the people they represent.”[]
For physicians, the downstream effects may include:
Lower payments: States may trim reimbursement rates to fit within fixed budgets.
Increased paperwork: Eligibility changes and work requirements could burden providers and delay access to care.
Coverage gaps: Many patients may lose or cycle in and out of Medicaid, making continuity of care nearly impossible.
Primary care doctors, OB/GYNs, pediatricians, ED physicians, and hospitalists will likely be among the hardest hit—especially in rural and underserved areas.
Advocacy beyond the clinic
Dr. Rojas’ call wasn’t partisan—it was practical. With millions at risk of losing coverage, she saw a window to act and took it. And now that the bill has passed, the need for physician voices is even more urgent.
As more healthcare policy decisions shift from the federal government to the states, physicians may find themselves not only treating the consequences but increasingly being called to prevent them.
This moment serves as a reminder: When your patients’ access to care is on the line, one of the most powerful tools in your kit may be your voice.
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