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cover of episode Why Medicaid Work Requirements Are A Bad Idea

Why Medicaid Work Requirements Are A Bad Idea

2025/5/21
logo of podcast What A Day

What A Day
AI Deep Dive AI Chapters Transcript
People
A
Angela Alsobrooks
D
Dick Durbin
D
Donald Trump
批评CHIPS Act，倡导使用关税而非补贴来促进美国国内芯片制造。
J
Jane Koston
K
Kristi Noem
M
Maggie Hassan
M
Matt Bruenig
R
Rick Scott
R
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
S
Steve Scalise
V
Vinay Prasad
Topics
Jane Koston: 作为主持人，我指出共和党试图通过对医疗补助进行大幅削减来资助他们的减税计划，而特朗普总统却声称不会削减。许多共和党人对医疗补助的受益人群存在误解，认为他们都是不愿工作的失业者。然而，数据显示，大多数医疗补助受益人都在工作，而那些没有工作的人通常是因为照顾家庭、疾病或在校学习。因此，共和党提出的工作要求实际上是毫无意义的，可能会使数百万美国人失去医疗保障。 Donald Trump: 作为总统，我多次公开表示不会削减医疗补助，并要求共和党议员不要“乱动”这一重要的社会保障项目。然而，我的声音似乎并未被充分听取，共和党内部仍然存在削减医疗补助的意愿。 Rick Scott: 作为参议员，我认为医疗补助应该主要用于帮助儿童和患有慢性疾病的人。那些有能力工作却选择不工作的人，不应该享受医疗补助。我的观点是，医疗补助应该优先保障那些真正需要帮助的人。 Steve Scalise: 作为众议员，我强调医疗补助的目的是帮助那些真正需要帮助的人，例如残疾人、孕妇和老年人。对于那些有能力工作却“住在妈妈的地下室里玩游戏”的人，我认为他们应该去找工作，而不是依赖医疗补助。我的目标是确保医疗补助资源能够真正用于帮助那些最需要帮助的人。 Matt Bruenig: 作为人民政策项目的创始人，我认为医疗补助工作要求既残酷又毫无意义。医疗补助的设计初衷是为失业者提供医疗保障，因此要求失业者工作才能获得医疗补助是自相矛盾的。此外，实施工作要求会增加行政负担，导致许多符合条件的人因为无法准确报告工作时长而被取消资格。最重要的是，工作要求并不能解决实际存在的问题，因为大多数医疗补助受益人都在工作。强制执行工作要求可能会导致人们无法获得医疗保障，甚至导致死亡。

Deep Dive

Chapters
In this episode, Jane Koston interviews Matt Bruenig about the proposed Medicaid work requirements. Bruenig argues that these requirements are not only ineffective but also morally wrong, as they target a population that largely already works and are a solution to a non-existent problem. He points out the flaws in the logic behind the requirements and the potential for harming those that they were not intended to affect.
  • Most working-age adults on Medicaid already work.
  • Work requirements would create undue administrative burdens.
  • Medicaid is designed as a backstop for those who are out of work.
  • The proposed work requirements would likely cause many people to lose their healthcare coverage and would result in increased suffering and deaths.

Shownotes Transcript

As Congressional Republicans try to pass President Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' through the House and Senate, Medicaid is one of the big programs in the party's legislative crosshairs. GOP lawmakers are eyeing upwards of $800 billion in cuts to the safety net health care program over the next decade, in part by imposing new work and eligibility requirements for recipients. But while the president keeps insisting 'no cuts to Medicaid,' the government's calculations suggest the party's plan could cost 10 million Americans their health care coverage. Matt Bruenig, founder of the People's Policy Project, explains why work requirements don't work.

And in headlines: Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem got her constitutional rights all mixed up during a Senate hearing, Trump's FDA looks to limit access to Covid booster shots, and New Jersey U.S. Congresswoman LaMonica McIver is charged with assault.

***CORRECTION:  In this episode, we said House Republicans were eying upwards of $800 billion in cuts to Medicaid in their spending and tax bill. The actual total of proposed cuts to the safety net health care program is estimated at more than $600 billion. We regret the error.

Show Notes: