Impacts of Medicaid Cuts in Western Massachusetts: The Massachusetts Health Policy Forum

Join us Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at the UMass Amherst, Fine Arts Center for a forum entitled, “Impacts of Medicaid Cuts on Western Massachusetts.” Seating is limited, so please register as soon as possible.

Medicaid cuts resulting from the passage of H.R. 1, the federal budget reconciliation act known as the “One Big Beautiful Act” will lead to an estimated 141,000 to 203,000 MassHealth members losing health care coverage. The number of uninsured will likely increase significantly and adversely impact safety net providers and others throughout the health care system. Details of this law’s impact on the Commonwealth will be followed by a deep dive panel discussion of the impact on Western Massachusetts.

A presentation of research by Kaitlyn Kenny Walsh, Vice President of Policy and Research, BCBSMA Foundation, will focus on the impact on Massachusetts federal funding regulations and policy changes. The panel on the implications for Western Massachusetts will be moderated by Audrey Shelto, President and CEO, BCBSMA Foundation and include Michael Levine, Undersecretary, MassHealth at EOHHS, Tania Barber, President and CEO, Caring Health Center, Dean Sanpei, COA, Baystate Health, and Iiana Steinhauer, Executive Director, Volunteers in Medicine.

This forum is supported by University of Massachusetts Amherst School of Public Health and Health Sciences, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation and the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts. The Philip W. Johnston Massachusetts Health Policy Forum is also supported by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and Baystate Health.