Date of Award
8-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Public Health
Department
Health Science and Human Ecology
First Reader/Committee Chair
Salome Kapella-Mshigeni
Abstract
Background: Medicaid is a critical source of health insurance for low-income populations in the United States, providing access to essential preventative, primary, and reproductive health care services (Donohue et al., 2022). The Medicaid defunding of 2025 and policy changes that follow have raised concerns regarding increased barriers to care, particularly among low-income and vulnerable populations who rely on safety-net providers such as Planned Parenthood (Planned Parenthood, 2025). The purpose of this study was to examine how the 2025 Medicaid defunding has impacted access to general and reproductive health care services among residents of San Bernardino County, California.
Conclusion: The research findings suggest that the 2025 Medicaid defunding contributes to increased barriers to general and reproductive health care services, specifically among low-income and young adult populations. Financial strain, coverage instability, and reduced access to safety-net providers may lead to delays in care as well as negative health outcomes. These results highlight the importance of maintaining Medicaid coverage and supporting providers such as Planned Parenthood in order to ensure equitable access to essential health care services.
Recommended Citation
Rios, Samantha I., "HOW RECENT MEDICAID DEFUNDING HAS IMPACTED SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY RESIDENTS ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE SERVICES" (2026). Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations. 2529.
https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/2529