Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.
Location: UMass Amherst, Fine Arts Center
The Philip W. Johnston Massachusetts Health Policy Forum held a forum on Tuesday, October 28, 2025 entitled, “Impacts of Medicaid Cuts on Western Massachusetts," at the UMass Amherst, Fine Arts Center.
Medicaid cuts resulting from the passage of H.R. 1, the federal budget reconciliation act known as the “One Big Beautiful Act” could 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 by Kaitlyn Kenney Walsh, Vice President of Policy and Research, BCBSMA Foundation, focused on the impact of Massachusetts federal funding regulations and policy changes. The panel on the implications for Western Massachusetts was moderated by Audrey Shelto, President and CEO, BCBSMA Foundation and include Michael Levine, Undersecretary of EOHHS, Tania Barber, MBA, President and CEO, Caring Health Center Dean Sanpei, CAO, Baystate Health, and Ilana Steinhauer, Executive Director, Volunteers in Medicine.
This forum was 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.