Medicaid Cuts Threaten Jackson’s Health, Economy, and Future: A Call to Action

May 12, 2025

Guest Column
Bill Wypyski
CEO, Center for Family Health 

In reviewing the US House of Representatives’ proposal to cut hundreds of billions from Medicaid, we are concerned about the Center for Family Health and the patients who get their health insurance through Medicaid coverage.

Medicaid helps to keep people healthy, working, and living in their homes. Medicaid covers about half of children, 4 in 10 pregnant women, many people with disabilities, nearly all poor seniors age 65 and older, and other low-income adults, helping them get the health care they need.

Our health center and its patients depend on Medicaid to finance needed health services. Among our patients, over 50% percent get their health insurance through Medicaid. Medicaid accounts for over 60% percent of our community health center revenues.

Medicaid plays a significant role in the local and state economies by sustaining our community health centers, keeping rural hospitals open, supporting job growth, and saving taxpayer dollars by avoiding unnecessary health costs. Polls show the program is valued, and most voters do not want deep cuts in Medicaid.

Yet Congress has proposed ways to cut Medicaid, such as reducing federal Medicaid matching dollars, limiting provider tax revenues, and imposing work requirements and other limits on eligibility. Any of these proposed policy changes would have major impacts on people in our community and our state overall, resulting in millions of dollars in cuts and terminating people’s healthcare. This isn’t a far away issue- health centers like ours and our patients, along with many others in our community, will feel the negative effects.

We must tell those who represent us in Congress that voters in Michigan are watching their actions and decisions closely. We must ask them: Where will you stand on this crucial decision?

The damage caused by Medicaid cuts will extend far beyond the poor households asked to shoulder this burden. Local leaders and the public know that our access to health care, good local jobs, and our economy are at stake.

About the Center for Family Health

The Center for Family Health is an independent, federally qualified health center. It provides comprehensive, quality medical care, dental services and behavioral-health assistance to nearly 32,000 patients at its main location in Jackson, a dental clinic, pharmacy, four school health centers, and a satellite clinic at LifeWays. Learn more at CenterforFamilyHealth.org.

About the Author

President and Chief Executive Officer William “Bill” M. Wypyski, Jr. MSW, MPA, MS, FACHE, joined the Center for Family Health in 2023. Since joining CFH, he has led several service expansion projects, which include an entire first floor renovation of the Walk-In Clinic, indoor Pharmacy, Health Information, Outreach and Enrollment, and installation of a new Pharmacy Drive-Thru. With a career spanning over four decades and across the US, Bill has held pivotal roles as CEO at health centers located throughout Michigan, Iowa, and Maine. His leadership has consistently driven organizational growth, financial stability, and improved patient care. He holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Denver, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Maine, and a Master of Human Services with a focus on Health Care Administration from Capella University. Bill is also a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and continues to contribute to various professional boards and committees, which includes his board membership at the Michigan Primary Care Association. He is a lifetime member of the National Association of Community Health Centers.