Fight over Medicaid cuts heats up as House Republicans release bill

House Republicans released legislative text of a key portion of their party-line agenda bill that includes cuts and other changes to Medicaid, one of the most contentious issues they face in trying to advance President Donald Trump’s agenda in one sweeping package.
WASHINGTON — House Republicans released legislative text Sunday evening of a key portion of their party-line agenda bill that includes cuts and other changes to Medicaid, one of the most contentious issues they face in trying to advance President Donald Trump’s agenda in one sweeping package.
The legislation released by the Energy and Commerce Committee heads to a markup Tuesday afternoon, and includes a 160-page section covering health care and Medicaid.
The bill would make a slew of Medicaid spending reductions through policies such as stricter eligibility verification, citizenship checks, tougher screenings on providers who get reimbursements and federal Medicaid funding cuts to states that offer coverage to residents living in the U.S. illegally.
The bill also seeks to impose work requirements to receive Medicaid for able-bodied adults aged 19 to 64 without dependents, demanding they work at least 80 hours — or perform 80 hours of community service or other programs — per month. It includes exceptions for pregnant women and short-term hardship waivers in limited cases.
“When so many Americans who are truly in need rely on Medicaid for life-saving services, Washington can’t afford to undermine the program further by subsidizing capable adults who choose not to work. That’s why our bill would implement sensible work requirements,” Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., the committee chairman, wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed making his case for the bill.
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