08/09/2026
Hospitals Expect Many More Uninsured Patients Who Will Lose Medicaid
See https://www.independent.com/2026/08/05/santa-barbaras-cottage-health-braces-for-40m-spike-in-uninsured-patients/
"HR 1 is front and center in the minds of all healthcare providers everywhere. In Santa Barbara County, Cottage, CenCal, the Neighborhood Clinics, Dignity Health, Lompoc Hospital, Sutter Health, the Indian Health Clinic, and the Santa Barbara County Department of Public Health have convened an ongoing health care summit; the idea, in short, is to rearrange the deck chairs of the Titanic before the iceberg hits.
In the meantime, prospective patients trying to better understand what options they have and what resources exist can call (805) 879-8963."
The number of uninsured patients at Cottage is expected to increase by up to 500 Percent when President Trump’s new Medicaid eligibility requirements take effect in the New Year.
