As the government shutdown drags into its second week, health care funding once again hangs in the balance and magnifies the policy choices that stripped coverage and deepened inequities under the president’s “Big Bad Bill” (H.R. 1). At this year’s Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference, Community Catalyst brought together national leaders to examine how those decisions continue to shape the health and economic security of Black communities and to highlight solutions rooted in collective power.

Community Catalyst’s latest blog, by Senior Director of Policy & Strategy Mona Shah, builds on that conversation, breaking down the lasting impacts of H.R. 1 on Black health and wealth and calling for policies that center community power and economic justice.

Read the full blog post here.

H.R. 1’s fallout is already being felt across Black communities, threatening both health and economic security:

  • Over 15 million people are expected to lose health care coverage, disproportionately affecting Black families.
  • Due to systemic racism that creates economic barriers, Medicaid cuts will disproportionately impact Black mothers and children who rely on the program for health care.
  • If ACA tax credits expire, 1.1 million Black people could lose coverage, and premiums in some states could more than double, increasing financial strain and adding to the existing medical debt crisis in the country.
  • 78% of people say the government should do more to reduce health care costs, highlighting public support for policies that protect access and economic stability.

These losses do not just threaten health; they also widen the racial wealth gap, leaving families more vulnerable to medical debt, hospital closures, and job losses in sectors that disproportionately employ Black workers. 

At Community Catalyst, we believe health justice is also economic justice. Together with our 300+ partners nationwide, we are working to make ACA tax credits permanent, repeal the health care cuts in H.R. 1, and ensure that everyone can access affordable, quality care while communities most harmed by inequities lead the way toward solutions.  

To speak with Mona or another expert at Community Catalyst, please contact Jack Cardinal at jcardinal@communitycatalyst.org.   

  

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