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cover of episode Republicans say Medicaid is safe. But budget math says otherwise

Republicans say Medicaid is safe. But budget math says otherwise

2025/3/10
logo of podcast Consider This from NPR

Consider This from NPR
AI Deep Dive AI Chapters Transcript
People
A
Al Green
E
Edwin Park
E
Elsa Chang
T
Tim Burchett
Topics
Al Green: 我明确告诉总统，他没有权力削减医疗补助。 Tim Burchett: 我们提出的8800亿美元削减不会影响医疗补助的覆盖范围，因为存在浪费、欺诈和滥用问题。我们不会削减医疗补助、医疗保险和社会保障。 Mike Johnson: 我们通过的预算决议中根本没有提到医疗补助、医疗保险或社会保障。 Edwin Park: 要在不削减医疗保险的情况下削减8800亿美元，不可能不触及医疗补助。医疗补助占剩余强制性支出的93%。共和党提出的削减方案（如工作要求、取消医疗保健提供者税）并不能节省足够的资金，反而会使数百万人失去医疗保障。这些削减规模巨大，许多提案会将成本转嫁给各州，或使各州更难为医疗补助提供资金。各州将不得不做出艰难的选择，例如削减资格、削减福利、削减对医疗机构的付款。 Elsa Chang: 共和党声称削减支出不会影响医疗补助的覆盖范围，但这在数学上是不可能的。 supporting_evidences Tim Burchett: 'So what I think I hear you saying is that this $880 billion of proposed cuts, that's...that people believe will hit Medicaid. You're saying it won't hurt people's coverage because that's really important to constituents. No, ma'am. Yeah, I believe that is exactly what I'm saying, ma'am. That is exactly what I'm saying. But that's a lot of money for it not to hit the actual health care coverage. Ma'am, it's a whole heck of a lot of money, but we're finding that over and over and over again that there is...There is waste, fraud and abuse. And that's just the bottom line. Our cuts to Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security off the table. Yes.' Mike Johnson: 'Our cuts to Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security off the table. Yes. And don't take my word for it, Kristen. Go do a word search of the budget resolution that we passed on Tuesday. There is not one mention of Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security.' Edwin Park: 'It cannot unless you're cutting Medicare, and both Speaker Johnson, other House Republican leaders, and President Trump have said that they do not want to cut Medicare. So if you take Medicare off the table...I think millions of people would lose coverage and millions of additional people would lose access to needed care as a result. It's simply the case that these cuts are large, they're significant,...So states are essentially left holding the bag.' Elsa Chang: 'House Republicans have claimed that spending cuts will not impact Medicaid coverage. But experts say that's just impossible.'

Deep Dive

Chapters
Despite Republicans' claims, the Congressional Budget Office suggests that their budget plan may necessitate cuts to Medicaid or Medicare. Experts like Edwin Park highlight the mathematical impossibility of achieving the proposed $880 billion in cuts without affecting Medicaid, especially if Medicare cuts are off the table. This chapter explores the initial reactions and statements from various political figures regarding potential Medicaid cuts.
  • Congressional Budget Office report indicates potential Medicaid cuts
  • Republicans claim cuts to Medicaid are off the table
  • Experts say $880 billion in cuts impossible without affecting Medicaid or Medicare

Shownotes Transcript

House Republicans have to get their spending bill passed by Friday to avoid a government shutdown. They can likely afford to lose just one vote. And that's the easy part. Then they'll have to get working on their plan to extend 4.5 trillion dollars in tax cuts passed under the Trump administration — a plan that will require huge cuts in government spending. Republicans are adamant that cuts to Medicaid are a non-starter. But the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office released a report last week that said Republicans' budget likely would require cuts to Medicaid or Medicare.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices)NPR Privacy Policy)