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Iowa lawmakers weigh in on Iowans' concerns over Medicaid cuts

"We strengthened and preserved Medicaid for those it was intended for," said Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks.

Iowa lawmakers weigh in on Iowans' concerns over Medicaid cuts

"We strengthened and preserved Medicaid for those it was intended for," said Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks.

NEXT WEEK. DEPENDING ON THE AGENCY. AND IOWA LAWMAKER IS ADDRESSING CONCERNS OVER CHANGES TO MEDICAID THAT HAVE SOME IOWANS WORRIED, PARTICULARLY ONE EASTERN IOWA MOTHER. WE INTRODUCED YOU TO FRIDAY NIGHT, JOHN HIGGINS IS CONCERNED ABOUT HOW MEDICAID CUTS UNDER THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL ACT WOULD IMPACT HER CHILDREN THAT RELY ON IT. vlog ABIGAIL CURRAN SPOKE WITH U.S. REPRESENTATIVE MARIANNETTE MILLER-MEEKS ABOUT WHY SHE SAYS HIGGINS SHOULDN’T WORRY. CHANGES TO MEDICAID HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL PARTS OF THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL ACT. THAT’S WHY ONE IOWA CITY MOTHER WENT ALL THE WAY TO CAPITOL HILL TO SHARE HER CONCERNS. BUT CONGRESSWOMAN MARIANNETTE MILLER-MEEKS SAYS FAMILIES LIKE HERS DON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO FEAR. WHAT WE’VE DONE IS PUT EVERYTHING INTO ONE BILL UNDER THE ONE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL ACT. MEDICAID LOOKS A LOT DIFFERENT, PARTICULARLY WHO’S ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE IT. BUT JOHN HIGGINS FRIESS, WHOSE TWO SONS HAVE RELIED ON MEDICAID SERVICES SINCE THEY WERE BORN, SAYS THAT’S NOT HER BIGGEST CONCERN. INSTEAD, IT’S THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES LIKE HERS. MEDICAID PAYS FOR HEALTH INSURANCE, IT PAYS FOR HEALTH CARE, IT PAYS FOR PRESCRIPTIONS. IT PAYS FOR RESPITE CARE. IT’S IMPORTANT TO NOTE UNDER THE NEW MEDICAID CUTS, HIGGINS SAYS, CHILDREN ARE STILL ELIGIBLE FOR CARE. BUT THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ESTIMATES THAT FEDERAL SPENDING ON MEDICAID AND CHILDREN’S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM BENEFITS WILL DROP BY OVER $1 TRILLION, THOUGH THAT’S WHY REPRESENTATIVE MILLER-MEEKS SAYS THESE CHANGES WILL HELP. THAT IS WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE THAT WE HAVE ROOTED OUT OF THE SYSTEM. IT WILL SAVE MEDICAID DOLLARS. SO THOSE DOLLARS CAN GO TO FAMILIES LIKE HIGGINS SAYS, SHE SAYS, BECAUSE THESE CHANGES NARROW, WHO QUALIFIES FOR MEDICAID? IT WILL HELP STREAMLINE THE SYSTEM, ULTIMATELY ALLOWING EACH DOLLAR PUT INTO IT TO DO MORE. WE STRENGTHEN AND PRESERVE MEDICAID FOR THOSE IT WAS INTENDED. THOSE MOTHERS SHOULDN’T HAVE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN. THE FULL EFFECT OF THESE CHANGES LIKELY WON’T BE SEEN AND FELT UNTIL MONTHS DOWN THE LINE. AND UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, HIGGINS FRIESS IS NERVOUS FOR THE FUTURE. WE DON’T KNOW YET WHAT THE IMPACT OF MEDICAID CUTS WILL BE ON OUR FAMILY SPECIFICALLY. THEY’RE JUST A LOT OF UNKNOWNS, CONGRESSMAN ZACH NUNN ALSO SHARED HIS THOUGHTS WITH vlog IN AN INTERVIEW FRIDAY. HE ECHOED A LOT OF MILLER-MEEKS POINTS, SAYING THAT HE HOPES TO WEED OUT FRAUD, WAST
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Updated: 10:53 PM CDT Oct 25, 2025
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Iowa lawmakers weigh in on Iowans' concerns over Medicaid cuts

"We strengthened and preserved Medicaid for those it was intended for," said Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks.

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Updated: 10:53 PM CDT Oct 25, 2025
Editorial Standards
Changes to Medicaid have been one of the most controversial parts of the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act.That's why one Iowa City mother, Jonna Higgins-Freese, went all the way to Capitol Hill to share her concerns and spoke during a press conference with House Democrats.But in an interview with vlog, Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks says families like hers don't have anything to fear. One of the biggest changes to Medicaid is the eligibility requirements, but that's not the part that Higgins-Freese says she's most worried about.Instead, she's worried about the amount of funding available to families like hers. Two of her children have relied on Medicaid since birth."Medicaid pays for health insurance. It pays for health care. It pays for prescriptions. It pays for respite care," she said.Under the changes, Higgins-Freese's children are still eligible for care, but the Congressional Budget Office estimates federal spending on Medicaid and and Children's Health Insurance Program benefits will drop by over a trillion dollars.That's why Miller-Meeks says these changes will help families like Higgins-Freese's."That is waste, fraud and abuse that we have rooted out of the system," Miller-Meeks said. "We will save Medicaid dollars so those dollars can go to families."She says that because the changes narrow who qualifies for Medicaid, it will help streamline the system, ultimately allowing each dollar put into it to do more."We strengthened and preserved Medicaid for those it was intended for. Those mothers shouldn't have to be concerned about their children," said Miller-Meeks. Congressman Zach Nunn also echoed many of Miller-Meeks' points in an interview with vlog on Friday."I want to crack down on the fraud, waste, and abuse that's depriving these programs of being successful into the future," he said. The full effect of the changes to Medicaid likely won't be seen and felt until months down the line. And until that happens, Higgins-Freese is nervous for the future."We don't know yet what the impact of the Medicaid cuts will be on our family specifically. There are just a lot of unknowns," Higgins-Freese said.

Changes to Medicaid have been one of the most controversial parts of the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act.

That's why one Iowa City mother, Jonna Higgins-Freese, went all the way to Capitol Hill to share her concerns and spoke during a press conference with House Democrats.

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But in an interview with vlog, Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks says families like hers don't have anything to fear.

One of the biggest changes to Medicaid is the eligibility requirements, but that's not the part that Higgins-Freese says she's most worried about.

Instead, she's worried about the amount of funding available to families like hers. Two of her children have relied on Medicaid since birth.

"Medicaid pays for health insurance. It pays for health care. It pays for prescriptions. It pays for respite care," she said.

Under the changes, Higgins-Freese's children are still eligible for care, but the Congressional Budget Office estimates federal spending on Medicaid and and Children's Health Insurance Program benefits will drop by over a trillion dollars.

That's why Miller-Meeks says these changes will help families like Higgins-Freese's.

"That is waste, fraud and abuse that we have rooted out of the system," Miller-Meeks said. "We will save Medicaid dollars so those dollars can go to families."

She says that because the changes narrow who qualifies for Medicaid, it will help streamline the system, ultimately allowing each dollar put into it to do more.

"We strengthened and preserved Medicaid for those it was intended for. Those mothers shouldn't have to be concerned about their children," said Miller-Meeks.

Congressman Zach Nunn also echoed many of Miller-Meeks' points in an interview with vlog on Friday.

"I want to crack down on the fraud, waste, and abuse that's depriving these programs of being successful into the future," he said.

The full effect of the changes to Medicaid likely won't be seen and felt until months down the line. And until that happens, Higgins-Freese is nervous for the future.

"We don't know yet what the impact of the Medicaid cuts will be on our family specifically. There are just a lot of unknowns," Higgins-Freese said.

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