News from the South - Georgia News Feed
Medicaid cuts may disproportionately affect Black, Latino doctors and their patients
by Nada Hassanein, Georgia Recorder
April 26, 2025
Los Angeles pediatrician and urgent care specialist Dr. Ilan Shapiro worries for his chronically ill patients as he watches Congress weigh significant cuts to Medicaid.
He thinks of a boy who, before finding Shapiro’s clinic, was in and out of emergency rooms and intensive care units because of severe asthma attacks, instead of competing in soccer games and studying for exams. The boy’s parents were losing hours and pay at work with the frequent ER visits.
Shapiro, who is Latino, works at a federally qualified health care center, a clinic for low-income patients. Most of his patients are people of color on Medicaid, and roughly a quarter of them are children.
Research shows Latino and Black family physicians are more likely to see Medicaid patients compared with their white and Asian counterparts. Experts say the Medicaid cuts Congress is weighing would strap health care centers that rely on already-low Medicaid reimbursements, disproportionately affecting communities of color and the physicians they rely on.
It’s not just health insurance. It’s a lifeline for the entire family that could be severely impacted.
– Dr. Ilan Shapiro
Of the 72 million people covered by Medicaid, the state-federal health insurance program for people with low incomes or disabilities, more than half are people of color, with Black and Hispanic people disproportionately represented on the rolls.
Black and Hispanic patients have a higher risk of conditions such as high blood pressure, kidney disease and certain cancers, making health care access crucial.
Congressional Republicans are considering $880 billion in cuts to federal Medicaid spending to offset trillions in tax cuts proposed by President Donald Trump. Conservatives have long argued that Medicaid is too expensive. They assert its expansion under the Affordable Care Act to more working adults has diverted too much money toward nondisabled people, taking resources away from vulnerable populations the program was originally intended to help.
But clinicians and policy analysts say the federal Medicaid cuts could have an especially detrimental impact on vulnerable enrollees, including children, older adults and people with disabilities or chronic illnesses, as states are forced to find savings to fill the gap.
Black maternal health advocates, researchers press on amid federal funding cuts
One GOP proposal targeting Medicaid expansion could lead to reductions in children’s health insurance programs, according to a February report by the Urban Institute. The think tank estimates that proposed cuts to federal Medicaid expansion spending could increase the number of uninsured kids by 11.8%.
“I’m deeply afraid,” said Shapiro. “It’s not just health insurance. It’s a lifeline for the entire family that could be severely impacted.”
Bias and language barriers
Just 6% of U.S. physicians are Latino and 5% are Black, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Sustaining the relatively few medical practices with Black and Hispanic providers is important amid evidence that racial bias, lack of access to culturally competent care and language barriers lead to poorer health outcomes or access.
For example, analyses have shown Black patients are less likely to be prescribed pain medication, and some clinicians hold false ideas that Black patients have a higher pain tolerance. Nearly 1 in 3 Black, Hispanic and multiracial women reported mistreatment in medical settings during pregnancy and delivery, such as receiving no help when asking for it or being shouted at, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study.
Language barriers, which Latino communities are more likely to face, are also associated with poorer health or limited access to health care.
A fifth of Americans are on Medicaid. Some of them have no idea.
“We understand the language and cultural concordance and the improved outcomes,” said Dr. Linda Mirdamadi, an adjunct clinical assistant professor at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine who serves on the National Hispanic Medical Association’s board of directors. “There’s a sense of trust.”
Mirdamadi said federal cuts to Medicaid would lead to loss of preventive care for her large, diverse community.
“If they don’t have access to health care, they’re not going to have the access to chronic disease prevention, to vaccines, to cancer prevention screening,” she said. “It is going to just increase the disparity gaps that already exist.”
‘Ripple effect’
Dr. Roger Mitchell, president-elect of the National Medical Association, which represents Black physicians, said a widespread loss of Medicaid coverage would affect everybody, even people with private insurance. People without health coverage often don’t have primary doctors and forgo preventive care, resulting in more trips to the emergency room. That can lead to longer wait times at ERs for everyone, regardless of their health insurance.
Mitchell also pointed out that Medicaid reimbursements are a major funding stream for hospitals and clinics that see a lot of enrollees. Without that money, many of those providers might be forced to scale back their services or close.
“The ripple effect is enormous,” said Mitchell, who heads Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C., where about 40% of patients are covered by Medicaid. “This is an issue that’s not just affecting one portion of the U.S. populace, but all of us, and has the potential to have huge harm.”
Medicaid cuts could hurt older adults who rely on home care, nursing homes
Dr. Zita Magloire is a family physician, but she also offers obstetric care along with two OB-GYNs at Cairo Medical Care in the south Georgia city of Cairo. The city is the county seat of Grady County, which has about 26,000 residents, almost 30% of whom are Black.
Her practice is one of the few in the area that takes Medicaid for obstetric care, she noted, and serves many Central American immigrant patients who drive from the surrounding rural areas to her clinic. When another practice in the area started cutting services, her center absorbed those patients.
“There’s not a lot of providers that accept Medicaid,” she said. “What does that look like? Well, they [patients] show up with no prenatal care — and then, you have very high-risk patients.”
Back in Los Angeles, the boy whose family found Shapiro’s clinic is now a teenager. He received stable asthma care there and got Medicaid coverage.
“He started having a medical home. Everything changed. The ER visits and the intensive care unit visits changed to soccer games,” Shapiro said. Having coverage, he continued, “makes a huge impact for the entire community.”
Stateline reporter Nada Hassanein can be reached at nhassanein@stateline.org.
Georgia Recorder is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Georgia Recorder maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor John McCosh for questions: info@georgiarecorder.com.
The post Medicaid cuts may disproportionately affect Black, Latino doctors and their patients appeared first on georgiarecorder.com
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Left
This content reflects a Center-Left bias primarily by emphasizing the potential negative impact of proposed Medicaid cuts on minority communities, particularly Black and Latino populations. The article highlights the essential role of Medicaid in providing health care access to underserved groups and discusses the disproportionate impact of proposed cuts on these communities. The piece features perspectives from healthcare professionals and community leaders who advocate for the protection of Medicaid, arguing that cuts would harm vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, and people with chronic conditions.
The content includes a critical view of Republican proposals to reduce Medicaid spending, aligning with a more liberal or progressive stance on healthcare access. However, it does not engage in extreme rhetoric or partisan attacks, and it includes input from medical professionals of various backgrounds, making it more centrist than far-left. The article also focuses on systemic issues like racial and language disparities in healthcare, which is a common concern in Center-Left discourse.
News from the South - Georgia News Feed
Augusta Video Game Exposition set to return for 2026
SUMMARY: The Augusta Video Game Exposition debuted on March 22 at the Elks Lodge, attracting over a thousand attendees. Organizer David Bryant aimed to create a dedicated event for the gaming community, including video games, trading cards, comics, and 3D prints. Originally expecting 300-400 people, the event overwhelmed fire code limits due to its popularity. Guests enjoyed diverse games, vendors, artists, and food trucks, with free admission making it accessible. The success prompted plans for the 2026 expo on March 21 at the DoubleTree on Perimeter Parkway, featuring special guests, including Mortal Kombat announcements. Tickets will cost $5 general and $10 VIP. Follow their Facebook for updates.
The post Augusta Video Game Exposition set to return for 2026 appeared first on www.wjbf.com
News from the South - Georgia News Feed
Taliaferro County’s Chief Deputy resigns after arrest, Sheriff shows empathy
SUMMARY: Taliaferro County Chief Deputy Chris Treadwell was arrested for boating under the influence at Clarks Hill Lake and submitted his resignation on July 5, expressing remorse. Sheriff Tia McWilliams accepted the resignation but praised his integrity and urged him not to let one mistake define his career. Treadwell later requested to rescind his resignation, which was granted pending an investigation completed on July 17. He was suspended without pay for at least 14 days and will return with a rank reduction. Sheriff McWilliams emphasized accountability, compassion, and the importance of growth and humility within law enforcement and the broader community.
The post Taliaferro County's Chief Deputy resigns after arrest, Sheriff shows empathy appeared first on www.wjbf.com
News from the South - Georgia News Feed
Trump diagnosed with chronic ailment | FOX 5 News
SUMMARY: President Trump has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a common vein condition affecting up to 40% of Americans, especially those over 70. This condition involves malfunctioning valves in superficial leg veins, causing blood pooling and mild swelling. Dr. Phillip Fleming explains it isn’t dangerous but can cause discomfort and requires management. Key treatments include wearing compression hose during long flights or standing periods, elevating legs multiple times daily, walking regularly, and managing weight. The condition is influenced by family history and lifestyle factors, like prolonged sitting or standing. It differs from deep vein thrombosis and does not impair Trump’s ability to perform as commander-in-chief.
President Donald Trump has been diagnosed with “chronic venous insufficiency,” the disease is common in older adults when little valves inside the veins that normally help move blood against gravity up the legs gradually lose the ability to work properly.
Subscribe to FOX 5 Atlanta!: https://bit.ly/3vpFpcm
Watch FOX 5 Atlanta Live: https://www.fox5atlanta.com/live
FOX 5 Atlanta delivers breaking news, live events, investigations, politics, entertainment, business news and local stories from metro Atlanta, north Georgia and across the nation.
Watch more from FOX 5 Atlanta on YouTube:
FOX 5 News: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUgtVJuOxfqkmrF1fONNmi8nKI0Z-FPE-
FOX 5 Atlanta I-Team: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUgtVJuOxfqlb_I16wBwizoAoUsfKEeWB
Good Day Atlanta: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUgtVJuOxfqlKT5xsbsPFgr5EBzdsWTvG
FOX 5 Extras: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUgtVJuOxfqli-5MS_2X-i6bNGWvV0RYP
You Decide: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUgtVJuOxfqnCKb7UkRde2NXuaoPEAXut
Download the FOX 5 Atlanta app: https://www.fox5atlanta.com/app
Download the FOX 5 Storm Team app: https://www.fox5atlanta.com/storm
Follow FOX 5 Atlanta on Facebook: https://facebook.com/fox5atlanta
Follow FOX 5 Atlanta on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FOX5Atlanta
Follow FOX 5 Atlanta on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fox5atlanta/
Subscribe to the Morning Brief and other newsletters from FOX 5 Atlanta: https://www.fox5atlanta.com/email
-
News from the South - Tennessee News Feed5 days ago
Bread sold at Walmart, Kroger stores in TN, KY recalled over undeclared tree nut
-
News from the South - Arkansas News Feed7 days ago
Man shot and killed in Benton County, near Rogers
-
News from the South - Georgia News Feed1 day ago
Aiken County family fleeing to Mexico due to Trump immigration policies
-
News from the South - Alabama News Feed6 days ago
Girls Hold Lemonade Stand for St. Jude Hospital | July 12, 2025 | News 19 at 10 p.m. – Weekend
-
News from the South - Georgia News Feed7 days ago
Anti-ICE demonstrators march to Beaufort County Sheriff's Office
-
News from the South - Oklahoma News Feed7 days ago
Police say couple had 50+ animals living in home
-
Mississippi Today1 day ago
Driver’s license office moves to downtown Jackson
-
Mississippi Today4 days ago
Coast judge upholds secrecy in politically charged case. Media appeals ruling.