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ROCHESTER 鈥� As Republicans in Congress aim to pass President Donald Trump鈥檚 1,000-plus-page legislative package by Memorial Day, Minnesotans are raising the alarm over proposed cuts to SNAP and Medicaid.

鈥淢y family relies on MNsure and which are set to expire at the end of this year unless Congress intervenes, 鈥渢o make our health insurance more affordable,鈥� said Jennifer Jacquot-DeVries of Brainerd, executive director of the Crossing Arts Alliance. 鈥淥ur daughter is also one of those children who receives Medicaid. ... That coverage is also now at risk.鈥�

According to the 1,116-page bill advancing through the U.S. House of Representatives includes tax breaks and spending cuts, including $800 billion from Medicaid. It also would shift a greater share of the Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program, or SNAP, budget to states.

鈥淧eople who qualify for Medicaid also tend to qualify for food assistance, and access to food is of central importance in maintaining health,鈥� Margarida Jorge, executive director of the Health Care for America Now Education Fund, said during a press conference Tuesday, May 20.

The bill would also introduce work, school attendance or community service requirements for certain Medicaid enrollees. Liz Kuoppala, executive director of MAHUBE-OTWA Community Action Partnership, said that extra paperwork will make it harder to get and keep Medicaid coverage.

鈥淚t may sound like common-sense policy, but the families we partner with are already working,鈥� said Kuoppala, whose organization serves northwest Minnesota. 鈥淪o, the planned savings seem to come from creating hurdles and red tape to document those hours, knowing many will not.鈥�

At least 7.6 million of the nationwide would lose coverage, the AP reports.

鈥淣early 45% of America鈥檚 kids ... rely on Medicaid for health insurance, rely on SNAP for food assistance or rely on both,鈥� Jorge said.

Eighteen percent of Minnesotans are covered by Medicaid, which is called Medical Assistance in the state.

On health care providers鈥� end, scaling back Medicaid coverage would affect rural hospitals, mental health service providers and long-term care facilities, which all have a large share of their patient populations covered by Medicaid.

鈥淢edicaid is the primary payer for most of our long-term care in Minnesota,鈥� said Cami Peterson-DeVries, vice president of senior services for St. Francis Health Services, which operates 34 nursing homes, assisted living and independent living facilities across the state, from Thief River Falls to Zumbrota.

鈥淎t St. Francis, we have over 50% of our nursing home residents that rely on it,鈥� she continued. 鈥淎cross our rural areas, that number is higher and closer to 70%.鈥�

Peterson-DeVries said she is concerned that the changes outlined in the bill would cause financial instability for long-term care facilities. If those facilities close, 鈥渇amilies are forced to drive long distances, split up loved ones to provide supportive care, make impossible choices because the care simply isn鈥檛 available in those communities anymore,鈥� she said.

Pahoua Yang has similar concerns in the realm of mental health care. Yang is the vice president of community mental health and wellness at the St. Paul-based Wilder Foundation. She said the majority of Wilder鈥檚 clients are covered by Medicaid.

鈥淐utting Medicaid would be cutting our community off at the knees at a time when they are most vulnerable,鈥� Yang said.

The press conference speakers called for members of Minnesota鈥檚 congressional delegation not to pass the cuts.

鈥淚 call on my congressman, Rep. Pete Stauber, and all members of Congress to support the health and wellness of their constituents,鈥� Jacquot-DeVries said.

The House Republicans鈥� bill is advancing at the same time Minnesota lawmakers are finalizing the state鈥檚 next two-year budget. The 2025 regular legislative session came to a constitutionally mandated end on Monday, May 19, but lawmakers anticipate returning in a special session to pass unfinished parts of the budget, including the health and human services portions.

Facing a future state budget deficit, the latest agreement between DFL Gov. Tim Walz and legislative leaders involves reducing human services funding by nearly $1 billion over the next four years, as well as $396 million in cuts to health and human services over the same time frame.

鈥淚f we have to see Medicaid cuts at a federal level and state level, the expectation is that we will have cuts and caps in our (reimbursement) rate setting in Minnesota,鈥� Peterson-DeVries said.

Recent rallies and protests around the state, have focused on Medicaid funding.