74. Medicaid "Outlier" States And Their "Over-Expansion" Stuck In The Craw Of Conservatives

Medicaid cuts are being hotly contested between moderates and conservatives in the GOP caucuses, but Medicaid outlier states and their over-expansion of the program are certainly stuck in the craw of the conservatives.

 

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About The Episode:

 

On this episode, Marc discusses the fact that Medicaid cuts are being hotly contested between moderates and conservatives in the GOP caucuses. But Medicaid outlier states and their over-expansion of the program are certainly stuck in the craw of the conservatives.

 

Key Takeaways:  

 

The GOP’s annoyance regarding benefit and coverage-rich states could drive some budget reconciliation cuts.

 

Trump and GOP leaders have ruled out coverage reductions to Medicaid.

 

The Senate is seeking to limit overall budget reductions, especially in healthcare.

 

But House conservatives continue to want deeper cuts, including on healthcare.

 

The House is looking at Medicaid reductions in part to rein in progressive states and the size of their Medicaid programs.

 

Changes here would be featured as reforming waste and abuse in the system.

 

Conservatives criticize these states’ expansions of both eligibility and benefits.

 

As the budget debate rolls out, the GOP may make the case that it is all about reasonable expansions vs. excessive ones.

 

Conservatives argue these states find all sorts of questionable ways to fund their state matches, leverage increased federal dollars, and then expand Medicaid to more and people and additional services.

 

In addition to traditional approaches to attacking fraud and abuse, conservative budgeteers could curb provider taxes and other practices states use to generate federal match as part of the so-called abuse bucket.

 

Could moderates get on board for some of these changes?

 

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