"The so-called "Big Beautiful Bill," signed into law this summer, will devastate communities like ours. It strips billions of dollars from the social safety net, cutting Medicaid and other federal programs that have kept millions afloat. For Santa Clara County, the projected loss is staggering: $4.4 billion in revenue by fiscal year 2029-30. The consequences won't just fall on the poor. They will ripple outward, weakening the very systems we all rely on."
"The county operates California's second-largest public hospital system - four hospitals, 15 health clinics, two of the region's three trauma centers and the Bay Area's only burn center. One in four County residents, nearly 500,000 people, are Medi-Cal enrollees who depend on this system for care. And here's the reality, when uninsured or underinsured patients show up in crisis, hospitals are legally required to treat them whether or not the federal government provides reimbursement."
Federal legislation called the "Big Beautiful Bill" will cut billions from the social safety net, reducing Medicaid and other federal program funding. Santa Clara County faces a projected $4.4 billion revenue loss by fiscal year 2029-30. Sixty percent of 911 ambulance trips from San Jose go to county hospitals. The county operates California's second-largest public hospital system—four hospitals, 15 clinics and two trauma centers. Nearly 500,000 residents are Medi-Cal enrollees. Hospitals must treat uninsured or underinsured patients without guaranteed federal reimbursement, shifting unpaid care onto the shared system. Measure A would raise the sales tax 0.625% for five years to generate $330 million annually, covering about one-third of the county deficit and preventing service cuts and longer emergency waits.
Read at San Jose Spotlight
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