U.S. Senator Dick Durbin is warning Illinoisans of the potential effects of the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” saying it will hurt healthcare access and jobs.  The senator recently joined educators and healthcare professionals at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine to discuss the Trump administration's cuts to Medicaid, medical research, and new caps on student loans for medical students.  Durbin expressed concern that these changes would hurt both healthcare access and the ability of future doctors to afford their education, particularly in rural areas.

The measure reduces Medicaid funding by $1 trillion and cuts more than $300 billion from the Affordable Care Act over the next decade.  This could leave up to 500,000 Illinoisans without healthcare coverage and result in the loss of thousands of healthcare jobs and the closure of rural hospitals and nursing homes.  Durbin also criticized new loan limits for graduate students, including a $50,000 annual cap for medical students.  He fears the limit could discourage students from pursuing medicine or push them toward private loans.

Dr. Haneme Idrizi, an associate dean at SIU, also spoke at the event.  She called these policies a “one-two punch” to rural healthcare, as they may reduce the number of new doctors in areas already facing severe shortages.

Durbin, alongside Senator Tammy Duckworth, has reached out to Illinois hospitals to assess how these changes might affect their services and workforce.  Durbin reaffirmed his commitment to fighting for access to healthcare and education for all Illinoisans.