Several dozen people stood outside the Blazy Mall in Soldotna last week to protest Medicaid funding cuts proposed in a bill making its way through Congress. Among them were caregivers and Medicaid recipients.

At the June 26 protest, people held signs by the road and multiple caregivers spoke about why Medicaid shouldn’t be cut. The protest, which was held near the offices of Alaska’s U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, was organized by Protect Our Care Alaska and Alaska Caregivers.

“It is vital that our seniors, our low income, and our disabled have Medicaid in Alaska,” Homer caregiver Sonshine Konovalov said. Konovalov said a lot of patients depend on Medicaid for doctor visits and medication.

“I can understand making cuts because of those who fraud or waste, but I can’t understand cutting medications and surgeries that are lifesaving,” one of the caregivers said in an interview.

President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which passed the U.S. Senate on Tuesday morning, includes cuts to Medicaid. Murkowski and Sullivan, both Republicans, voted to support the measure. Murkowski said in a statement Tuesday that it was one of the hardest votes she had taken during her time in the Senate.

“To address the bill’s shortcomings, we have helped our communities through a 50 billion dollar rural health fund. This will mean hundreds of millions of dollars for Alaska hospitals, community health centers, and other providers,” she said.

Jonas Oyoumick is interning with the Peninsula Clarion through the Kenaitze Indian Tribe Daggeyi internship program.

A makeshift coffin decrying potential Medicaid cuts is seen on Thursday, June 26 , in front of the Blazy Mall in Soldotna . The cuts, included in a budget reconciliation bill, passed the U.S. Senate early Tuesday morning. (Photo by Jonas Oyoumick/Peninsula Clarion)