Joint Statement from DPAC and DLC on Senate Passage of Budget Bill
July 1, 2025
The Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition (DPAC) and the Diabetes Leadership Council (DLC) stronglyoppose the Senate’s passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. This legislation threatens the health andlives of millions of Americans living with and at risk for diabetes by imposing deep cuts to Medicaidthrough bureaucratic barriers and punitive eligibility restrictions and will leave millions withouthealthcare.
The Congressional Budget Office estimate outlines 11.8 million more Americans will lose healthcoverage by 2034 under this bill. For the 6.8 million people with diabetes who rely on Medicaid, thisisn’t just a loss of insurance—it’s a loss of access to insulin, lifesaving technology, vital supplies,clinical care, and disease management education. These are not optional benefits; they are lifelines.
The stakes are also high for the 98 million U.S. adults living with prediabetes, of which an estimated 25to 38 million are enrolled in Medicaid. Denying them preventive care will fuel a surge in diabetes cases,complications, and avoidable hospitalizations—burdening our healthcare system and costing lives.
Diabetes already disproportionately affects low-income populations, a gap that has only widened overrecent years. By imposing complex administrative hurdles like work requirements, this bill will stripcoverage from eligible patients—not because they no longer qualify, but because the system will bedesigned to push them out. This isn’t reform; it’s recklessness and cruelty. Further, restrictions onprovider taxes will force states to compensate for significant losses in federal support, likely by slashingbenefits for those who need them most and leading to the closure of several rural hospitals, creating caredeserts in our most vulnerable areas.
To a person living with diabetes, a loss of coverage could mean choosing between paying rent oraffording insulin, delaying critical care, or facing a life-threatening complication. No American shouldhave to make that choice.
We urge Congress to reject this bill and continue negotiations—even if that means extending talksbeyond the arbitrary July 4th deadline—to craft legislation that protects Medicaid for the millions ofpeople who depend on it for their health. To the 38 million Americans living with diabetes: we standwith you, we will fight for you, and we will work to get you the resources needed to navigate this threat.