House Republicans released a plan that would cause millions of poor Americans to lose Medicaid health coverage. Millions more would have to pay higher fees when they go to the doctor. The plan is part of a larger bill to advance President Trump’s agenda.
This includes large tax cuts and increased military spending. The plan leaves out the big changes to Medicaid that some Republicans wanted. More moderate Republicans were worried about losing their seats if they supported deep Medicaid cuts.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee released the plan. It will be reviewed on Tuesday. Republicans, led by House Speaker Mike Johnson, want to find $880 billion in savings over the next ten years.
They have to balance big cuts with avoiding changes that could cost them seats in some districts. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the plan would reduce federal spending by $912 billion over ten years. This would cause 8.6 million people to become uninsured.
Most of the cuts, $715 billion, would come from changes to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. The rest would come from changes to energy policy. The committee meeting is expected to bring more debate.
Republicans have to satisfy both fiscal conservatives and moderates in the party. House Republicans unveiled a major proposal featuring at least $880 billion in cuts. The cuts largely target Medicaid to help cover the cost of $4.5 trillion in tax breaks.
The plan is expected to cause an intense political battle over health care. Republicans say they are targeting inefficiencies to save money through new work and eligibility rules. Democrats warn that millions of Americans will lose coverage.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates the plan would reduce the number of people with health care by 8.6 million over ten years. Rep.
Medicaid cuts and political controversy
Brett Guthrie, a Republican from Kentucky, said the savings will allow them to renew tax cuts for middle-class families. Rep. Frank Pallone, a Democrat from New Jersey, criticized the cuts as an effort to dismantle Obamacare. He said millions will lose coverage, hospitals will close, and premiums will rise if the bill passes.
Republicans want to pass the bill by Memorial Day. They plan to hold public hearings this week on different parts of the bill before putting it all together. More than a dozen House Republicans have told Speaker Mike Johnson they will not support measures that take away services their constituents rely on.
Eleven House committees have to draft their parts of the package. Republicans want at least $1.5 trillion in savings to keep the tax cuts going. The Energy and Commerce Committee has to find $880 billion in savings, mostly through health care cuts and repealing Biden-era green energy programs.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates the committee’s plan would reduce the deficit by $912 billion over ten years. At least $715 billion would come from health care changes. The main savings would come from changes to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.
House Republicans are preparing for a long legislative battle that will shape the future of health care coverage in America. In an interview on “Face the Nation,” New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham discussed the potential Medicaid cuts. New Mexico has the highest Medicaid enrollment per capita, with more than 70% of coverage coming from federal funding.
Governor Lujan Grisham said every state will do everything possible to protect the people they serve. However, she warned that significant cuts could destroy health care as we know it, making it more costly and potentially closing hospitals. She said no state can handle the cost shifting, which could have huge economic consequences.
When asked if she would have to revisit the decision to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, Governor Lujan Grisham said rolling back the expansions is not an option. She emphasized the impact the cuts could have, from fewer OBGYNs and higher maternal and infant mortality rates to increased suffering and financial instability for working Americans. The governor also discussed the Trump administration’s decision to set up a national defense area along the border, giving the army control over that region.
She expressed concerns about the lack of due process and potential constitutional violations. Instead, she advocated for passing sensible border policies, hiring more Border Patrol agents, and ensuring National Guard availability for natural disasters.