Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska recently discussed the GOP budget blueprint in an interview, highlighting potential cuts to Medicaid. However, he emphasized that these cuts would not compromise the quality of care provided. Speaker Mike Johnson also stated that Republicans are committed to preserving Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security, aiming to identify efficiencies and eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse.
The House passed a budget blueprint this week, aiming for $1.5 trillion in spending cuts. Approximately $880 billion of these cuts are expected to come from federal health and energy programs, necessitating some savings in Medicaid. While the blueprint does not specify cuts to Medicare, it serves as a framework for drafting specific legislative text. The Senate has passed a different version of the budget blueprint that does not propose such extensive spending cuts, leading to the need for reconciliation between the two versions.
Bacon expressed confidence in assurances regarding potential cuts, indicating that House GOP leadership intends to reach a middle ground during the reconciliation process. He mentioned plans to introduce work requirements for able-bodied adults without children and conduct audits to remove ineligible individuals from Medicaid. However, he reiterated that the focus will remain on maintaining the quality of care for beneficiaries.
