“Big Beautiful Bill” cuts to Medicaid, food aid raise alarm in Tennessee

From left, Ashlie Bell, a survivor of childhood cancer and director of Family Voices of Tennessee, and Dr. Megan Schwaim, executive director of the Tennessee Caregiver Coalition, address how federal cuts to food programs will affect Tennesseans. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

Advocates for low-income and disabled Tennesseans sounded the alarm Tuesday over federal legislation that could slash an estimated $1.1 trillion over the next decade from federal safety net programs that provide food and healthcare to millions of Americans.

The package includes a $600 billion reduction in federal Medicaid spending over 10 years, impacting TennCare, Tennessee’s program, which currently covers healthcare costs of 1.4 million people, including two of every five children in the state.

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