Framingham Board of Health warns federal Medicaid changes threaten 45 percent of residents

FRAMINGHAM — July 14, 2026 — Framingham Board of Health warns Medicaid changes could affect nearly half the city's residents. Director of Public Health Bill Donahue told the board Tuesday that roughly 45 percent of Framingham residents obtain coverage through MassHealth, Medicaid, or Medicare — a rate exceeding state and national averages — putting the city at heightened risk from federal eligibility changes in the "One Big Beautiful Bill" that introduce work requirements for adults ages 18 to 65 and modify coverage for certain immigrant populations, with major provisions taking effect this fall. Board member Dr. Alicia Valente urged affected residents to contact MassHealth or the advocacy group Healthcare for All immediately and to seek any needed medical care while coverage remains in place. Donahue framed the issue in disease-control terms, warning that residents without coverage who forgo treatment can accelerate communicable disease spread. The board also heard that CSX has verbally agreed to park trash cars outside the city following intervention by the offices of Senators Edward Markey and Elizabeth Warren, and set a formal in-person public hearing on an updated permit fee schedule — the first revision since 2011 — for September 8.