Medicaid cuts passed by Republicans last summer will hit rural providers and patients particularly hard.[1] These cuts are the result of restrictions on the ways states have increased federal funding for their programs.[1] Rural communities are estimated to lose $137 billion in federal Medicaid funding over the next decade.[3] Hospitals face up to $12 billion in financial losses in 40 states due to new insurance coverage restrictions imposed by Congress.[3] President Trump appeared to be expanding his commitment not to cut Medicaid, which could complicate Republican plans for cuts to the safety net.[2] Despite the White House announcement that Medicaid will not be affected by the federal funding freeze, problems have been reported with states accessing Medicaid portals.[4]