The House Energy and Commerce Committee was directed to cut $880 billion, primarily from Medicaid.
Millions could lose compensation based on the GOP plan to reduce Medicaid according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office
Republicans must cut more than $800 billion in programs. Experts say it’s not a way to cut them without affecting Medicaid.
- House Republicans plan to enact more frequent eligibility checks for work requirements and Medicaid.
- However, the proposal does not pursue some of the deeper cuts that lawmakers have considered.
- The GOP fiscal Hawks may oppose the plan.
WASHINGTON – House Republicans are set to enact Medicaid work requirements and more frequent eligibility checks, according to the House Energy Commerce Committee Plan released late May 11.
But the proposal doesn’t pursue some of the deeper cuts lawmakers have considered, such as lowering federal game rates with states and lowering the limits on Medicaid spending per federal government.
The highly anticipated plan is expected to become part of the Republican Party Line bill to implement President Donald Trump’s agenda.
The Energy and Commerce Committee was instructed to find $880 billion in savings. Medicaid was the biggest remaining program in the chopping block, as Trump excluded Medicare and Social Security cuts.
However, the proposal appears to be aimed at seducing GOP moderates who said they could not vote for a major change in the program that provides health insurance to more than 71 million low-income Americans.
R-Kentucky Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie told the Wall Street Journal he hopes for the biggest pushback from Republicans who feel they’re not going “going far enough.”
It sets up a potential showdown with fiscal conservatives who want their colleagues to overhaul the program and want to cut down enough money to spend on the ultimate Republican tax package.
Lawmakers also suggest using Medicaid and tip funds for gender transition procedures for people under the age of 18. Reduces federal game rates for states using Medicaid infrastructure to provide healthcare to undocumented immigrants. Reduces cost sharing for patients with Medicaid spread beyond federal poverty levels. This is currently $32,150 for a family of four.
The proposal also includes provisions to prohibit the use of Medicaid unless citizenship, nationality, or immigration status has been verified.
It is not immediately clear whether the proposed changes meet the $880 billion savings that the committee has directed to find. The committee will hold a meeting on Tuesday to consider the law.
The cut to Medicaid will undoubtedly meet strong opposition, not just Democrats. In the opinion of the New York Times, published May 12th, R-Mo. Senator Josh Hawley wrote:
Instead, Holy writes that working families deserve prescription drug prices and tax cuts caps. “What we shouldn’t do is to eliminate their health care,” he said.
Congressional Republicans aim to complete their spending package by July 4th. However, the tight deadline will be at the beginning of August, when the Ministry of Finance will arrive. Scott Becent warned that the US is likely to strike debt restrictions.
The central part of the package is Trump’s 2017 tax cut, which expires at the end of the year. The president also wants to eliminate taxes on tips, overtime and Social Security payments.
The bill is also expected to roll back several clean energy clauses implemented under former President Joe Biden, increasing spending on defense and border security.
Republicans plan to pass the package using a process called “reconciliation.”
