KALAMAZOO, Mich. — In the heart of Southwest Michigan’s largest city, a steady stream of cars went in and out of the parking lot outside Family Health Center on Monday. In fact, the staff there serves, according to its president and CEO, 45,000 active patients.

“Of those 45,000 individuals, 65% receive Medicaid,” President and CEO Denise Crawford said. “I think it's very important for all of us to understand that Family Health Center would not exist if it were not for Medicaid.”

Crawford and other local medical professionals gathered with top state and local lawmakers Monday to tout a new law some assured would preserve Medicaid access amid federal changes handed down from Washington.

The new law , already approved by the governor last week when she signed the full state budget , is

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