Camden County officials are sounding the alarm about the recent passage of what they describe as one of the most harmful pieces of legislation in American history, President Donald Trump’s so-called big beautiful bill.
The legislation – criticized for extending sweeping tax breaks to the wealthy while slashing funding for social programs – has been condemned by the Camden County Board of Commissioners as a devastating blow to the region’s most vulnerable residents.
The legislation includes deep cuts to Medicaid, food assistance, rural health care and clean energy investments, and local officials are particularly concerned about the 134,796 county residents who rely on Medicaid for essential health-care services such as doctor visits, diagnostic testing and addiction treatment.
“This is not a new issue; we’ve been trying to find a sustainable balance for decades,” said Commissioner Virginia Betteridge, who also serves on the county’s Board of Social Services. “In my 40 years of public service, I’ve seen us continue to battle the same problems we faced in the ’80s and ’90s.
“Of course, no one wants abuse in the system, but this bill feels like it’s punishing the very people it claims to help.”
“This bill is nothing short of a massive redistribution of wealth,” reads a statement from the county commissioners. “Over its tenure, it will strip $1 trillion from Medicaid – a lifeline for millions – and funnel those dollars into tax cuts for the ultra-rich.
“This is not fiscal responsibility, it’s cruelty disguised as policy.”
Betteridge echoed those concerns.
“When you name a bill the ‘big, beautiful bill’ and it ends up hurting a large portion of our population, especially the most vulnerable, it becomes a very difficult pill to swallow,” she noted. “We cannot abandon what we believe is right just because of politics.
“Everyone has a story.”
In New Jersey, Medicaid plays a critical role in covering about 60% of nursing-home residents and more than 30% of births. Statewide, the rollback is expected to put immense pressure on working-class families, seniors and low-income communities.
According to Betteridge, the impact will be felt deeply in the county’s health-care system.
“Our hospitals serve an incredibly vulnerable population, and all of them accept Medicaid patients,” she explained. “Cooper University Hospital is our only Level 1 trauma center in the region, serving residents from Camden County all the way to Cape May. Jefferson is our designated crisis center.
“These institutions are critical,” she added, “and the ripple effects on clinics like CamCare and the Osborn Family Health Center – with its multiple satellite offices in the county – could be devastating. We could see clinic closures and overwhelmed emergency departments.
“Wait times will grow, and people will suffer.”
The Trump bill threatens to undo much of the health-care progress made since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was enacted in 2010. Nationally, up to 8 million people could lose health coverage under the new law, according to analysts. Local officials fear the number of uninsured will spike, raising long-term health costs for everyone and potentially increasing preventable deaths.
“These programs are designed to keep us healthy,” Betteridge pointed out. “If these cuts go through, we could face an $8-million deficit locally. Typically, funding is split, 12.5% from the state, 12.5% from the county. But with the federal cuts proposed, we could be on the hook for 25% to 50%.
“The shuffling of all of these funds is going to hurt our residents.”
“There is no reason anyone in this country should have to choose between paying for their child’s prescription or putting food on the table,” the commissioners’ statement emphasized. “This legislation does exactly that: It sacrifices families for the sake of corporate gain.”
Under the new law, able-bodied adults between the ages of 19 and 64 without dependents will be required to complete at least 80 hours of community service or work engagement per month to remain eligible for Medicaid. Betteridge cautioned that while implementation may take time, the long-term consequences are severe.
“This change won’t happen overnight, but it will take years to undo,” she observed. “These requirements sound simple on paper, but in reality, they create massive barriers to access, especially for those dealing with transportation issues, mental health or unstable housing.”
Betteridge pointed out that the county’s Medicaid population includes 51,000 adults, 26,023 children and more than 23,400 people with disabilities.
“That’s nearly one in seven residents who rely on this safety net,” she said. “This law puts their care in jeopardy.”
Betteridge also issued a warning about the impact of the bill on food assistance.
“It’s estimated that 3.2 million Americans could be forced off the SNAP program,” she reported. “Mental health is already one of our greatest public-health challenges, and now we’re adding another layer of stress for our constituents.”
Despite her concerns, Betteridge remains committed to advocating for Camden County residents.
“I am here to serve the public, and somehow I have hope that we can change this and help the people who need it most.” she said.
While the bill is now law, county officials are calling on residents to make their voices heard and demand accountability.
“We urge every resident to speak out,” the statement concluded. “This is a fight for the health and dignity of our community, and we cannot afford to stay silent.”
For more information on how the bill may affect your health care or benefits, reach out to local advocacy groups and stay in contact with congressional representatives.
