On CNN Tuesday, Scott Jennings, a senior political commentator, addressed Casey Hunt’s worries about Medicaid cuts tied to President Donald Trump’s recent legislative push.
The Senate Finance Committee unveiled tax and Medicaid proposals in June, which include stricter eligibility requirements and changes to labor conditions. These reforms are more sweeping than the version passed by the House, as they also restrict the use of state healthcare provider taxes to gain extra Medicaid funding. In her show “Kasie Hunt’s Arena,” Hunt expressed frustration over how the bill would impact Medicaid, recalling Trump’s pledge to safeguard the program.
“Scott, he said he wasn’t going to support Medicaid cuts, yet here he is backing this bill,” Hunt pointed out.
Jennings, however, quickly dismissed her concerns.
“Yeah, but who exactly are those Medicaid cuts targeting? I mean, it could be illegal immigrants or even healthy adults who just aren’t contributing,” Jennings replied.
Hunt continued to delve deeper into the situation, warning that the bill poses a significant risk to rural hospitals, especially those reliant on federal assistance.
“It’s about protecting social security. I’ve got a fair bit of knowledge in this area since I covered healthcare policy on Capitol Hill, so I know the ins and outs. Wearing that hat really complicates things, especially for Lisa Markovsky and Josh Howley, because rural hospitals and their emergency rooms rely heavily on funding,” she explained. “These hospitals don’t receive anything from those patients or the federal government.”
Jennings, unphased, stated that the proposal does include protections for rural hospitals.
“The Senate has actually set aside a substantial fund for rural hospitals—was it around $50 billion? It’s a big allocation aimed at addressing exactly what you’re concerned about,” he mentioned.
He added that the bill adopts a considerate strategy for these facilities.
“It shows they are taking steps to secure rural hospitals from negative impacts, which I think is why they’re pushing for it now,” Jennings said.
Initial estimates from the Congressional Budget Office project that the House-passed version of the President’s tax cuts and spending plan could cut federal Medicaid spending by about $700 billion over ten years. However, even with these reductions, the House Budget Committee anticipates a 30% hike in federal Medicaid spending by 2034, factoring in those proposed cuts.
Medicaid expenditures are likely to exceed what the CBO predicted in 2019, even after accounting for healthcare inflation and increases in population, as noted by Jeremy Nigohosian, a senior fellow and economist at the Competitive Enterprise Institute.
A spokesperson for Mike Johnson asserted in an NBC interview, “We’re not slashing Medicaid. Instead, we’re actually strengthening our programs by addressing fraud, waste, and abuse, making sure they serve those who truly need help.”
Additionally, Dr. Mehmet Oz, who heads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under Trump, claimed in an interview with Politico that the bill wouldn’t reduce Medicaid funding.
“We’re not cutting Medicaid at all,” Oz stated. “I’ve reviewed this proposal, and honestly, I can’t find one that doesn’t involve increased spending on Medicaid.”
