Congressman Krishnamoorthi Visits Franklin Hospital to Highlight Threats Posed by Republican Medicaid Cuts Under Trump Budget
BENTON, IL – Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) toured Franklin Hospital in Benton to spotlight the devastating impact of the Republican-passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which slashes more than $1 trillion in federal health care funding, including over $900 billion from Medicaid. Franklin is one of at least nine hospitals in Illinois at immediate risk of closure as a direct result of the law.
Joined by Franklin Hospital CEO Jim Johnson and hospital staff, Congressman Krishnamoorthi warned that the GOP budget, which he has dubbed the “Large Lousy Law,” jeopardizes the health and safety of rural communities while providing massive tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy.
“Franklin Hospital represents the very best of rural America—lifesaving care, dedicated staff, and deep ties to the community—but it’s being pushed to the brink by Republican cuts that gut the very programs keeping hospitals like this afloat,” Congressman Krishnamoorthi said. “You can’t slash a fifth of a hospital’s budget and expect it to keep its doors open. This isn’t about spreadsheets; it’s about babies born safely, elders treated with dignity, and rural communities kept healthy. I’ll keep fighting to reverse these reckless cuts and protect health care access for every Illinoisan.”
Franklin Hospital serves a predominantly rural population that relies heavily on Medicaid. Under the new law, rural hospitals nationwide are projected to lose 21 cents of every Medicaid dollar they currently receive. The legislation also imposes burdensome new work requirements and redetermination rules that will lead to mass disenrollments, particularly in rural and working-class areas.
Key consequences of the “Large Lousy Law” include:
$900 billion in Medicaid cuts over 10 years
$6.73 billion in projected Medicaid losses for Illinois
1.5 million rural Americans expected to lose Medicaid coverage
400+ rural hospitals at risk of closure nationwide
Background on Franklin Hospital and Rural Health Impact:
Serves a Medicaid-dependent population in southern Illinois
One of nine at-risk Illinois hospitals due to GOP cuts
Faces a 21% reduction in Medicaid reimbursement under current law
Provides critical services including emergency care, OB-GYN, and specialty treatment