Outnumbered Democrats acknowledge that bills to expand Medicaid, raise teacher pay, and protect unions are long shots to pass this Legislative Session, but they are still trying to push their agenda in hopes it catches Republicans’ attention.

That delicate balance is now at risk. Congress began its budget reconciliation process on Feb. 25, and Medicaid is in their crosshairs. Any changes will inevitably trickle down to Florida, so will state lawmakers’ response be nimble enough to avoid leaving federal dollars on the table?

A budget blueprint approved by the House this week is expected to cut billions in federal Medicaid spending as part of a plan to help renew and fund new and existing tax cuts. Republicans in Congress say there won’t be direct cuts to the millions of low-income adults and children in the U.

Florida doesn’t have as many residents on Medicaid as it could because it hasn’t implemented an Obamacare provision that would allow more low-income people to enroll in the program. Even so, Floridians could be affected by cuts to Medicaid, which is funded jointly by the state and federal government.

House Republicans signaled they’re going full steam ahead on significant changes to Medicaid, despite pressure from Democrats and even some moderates in their party.

Medicaid provides crucial healthcare coverage for eligible low-income individuals and families in Florida. Though the state has not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Ac

Jonathan Rivera had to get his foot, and part of his leg, amputated in January. Rivera lives in Florida—one of ten states which has declined federally backed Medicaid expansions through the Affordable Care Act, meant to patch state-level coverage gaps and allow more low-income people to qualify for care.

More than 3.7 million Floridians are enrolled in Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and many families like Lewis' depend on these services. But with House Republicans proposing $880 billion in budget cuts, the future of Medicaid remains uncertain.

The programs and tax credits that provide many Miami-Dade residents with health insurance are currently under threat from Washington politicians.

Average people understand the difference between coverage and care. A recent Emory University poll shows that Americans’ top healthcare priority is not insurance but “access to care,” even more than affordability. As counterintuitive as this is, it means that cutting Medicaid rolls could actually increase access to care.