Welcome to Beyond the Bedside, hosted by Betty Long, RN, Founder & CEO of Guardian Nurses (https://www.guardiannurses.com), and Nurse Advocate Rebecca Czarkowski, BSN, RN.
In this episode of Beyond the Bedside with Guardian Nurses, Guardian Nurses founder and CEO Betty Long and nurse advocate Rebecca Zarkowski break down one of the most important healthcare stories of the year—the sweeping federal legislation passed in July known as “The Big Beautiful Bill” and how its changes will affect insurance access, hospital systems, Medicaid funding, and patient care in 2026. With ACA tax credits set to expire on December 31, 2025 millions of Americans may face skyrocketing premiums, loss of coverage, and longer wait times for essential care.
Betty and Rebecca explain what this means for individuals, families, rural communities, employers, and frontline healthcare workers who are already navigating historic staffing shortages.
Whether you get coverage through a commercial plan, the Affordable Care Act, or Medicaid, this episode offers clear explanations, real-life examples, and practical next steps so you can understand exactly what’s coming and what you can do to advocate for yourself and your community.
Beyond the Bedside empowers patients and families with knowledge, tools, and stories that help you navigate today’s complex healthcare system with confidence. If you find this valuable, please like, subscribe, and share to help others stay informed. Make your voice heard—your legislators are listening. Find your congress person at house.gov.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 17:59 — 16.5MB)
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