Senate Republicans propose deeper Medicaid cuts. Here's what that means.

[Miles Archer]

Senate Republicans propose deeper Medicaid cuts. Here’s what that means.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/senate-republicans-propose-deeper-medicaid-021551180.html

Last month, House Republicans passed massive tax-and-spending legislation projected to result in 7.8 million fewer Medicaid enrollees. The Senate Finance Committee’s revisions to the bill released Monday could prompt even steeper coverage losses, sharply reining in a Medicaid financing maneuver that hospital groups say would slash payments to their facilities.

“The Senate just made a bad bill worse,” Chip Kahn, CEO of the Federation of American Hospitals, said in a statement. “Rural communities would take the hardest hit, with struggling hospitals compelled to face difficult decisions about what services to cut.”

Rural areas disproportionately rely on Medicaid, and their hospitals are often the first backstop for patients without health coverage. Hospital networks said they might reduce pediatric, maternity or behavioral health services; end telehealth programs; close rural facilities; or enact layoffs if the Medicaid cuts become law, in a recent member survey by the American Medical Group Association before the Senate bill was released.

These changes would partly be the result of caps on provider taxes, an unusual example of a tax many hospitals are happy to pay. States charge extra taxes to medical providers - mainly hospitals, nursing homes and facilities for people with intellectual disabilities - and in return give the providers higher Medicaid payments. That brings in more federal matching funds, which are pegged to state payments.

[Joinfortmill]

1. Republican is now a 'dirty word' to most of the country.

[Miles Archer]

2. Wait until the general public pays attention to what's in that bill

I take a lot for granted. I post here, political posts are part of what I do on Facebook, as well as Bluesky. I'd say I'm "politically active." I know a lot of people who just turn their heads the other way and go about their business. Some of them are Fox addicts, and reject anything that doesn't come from them or Newsmax. Others are exhausted by Trump and just want to go to their happy place. I personally think we'd be having "NO KINGS" events 7 days a week if more people had been paying attention to this abomination of a bill on its various steps along the way.

And the irony is that most of the "objections" from Republicans have been based on the cuts to the social safety net. Veterans programs, and more have "not been severe enough."

[joshdawg]

5. That's republicans for ya.

Take everything from the poor and give it all to the rich since they deserve it more than anyone else.

[thought crime]

7. Unfortunately, a large segment of the public Never pays attention

If the general public truly understood the scale of economic injustice in this country, Bernie Sanders would have been crowned King long ago.

[oasis]

3. Dirty stinking rats.

[Marthe48]

4. Instead of cutting Medicaid and services

Why not lower the price of the services? People in the U.S. pay more for every single aspect of medical care than any other country. I just read that hospitals can charge $700 for a bag of saline solution, which costs them $2.

[travelingthrulife]

6. Hospital charges are so confusing because they capture nursing staff and pharmacy

staff and room and board costs with those price increases. I don't know why they don't inform people of this in the bills they receive.

[thought crime]

10. Most developed countries have public medical systems.

[NoMoreRepugs]

8. How will Biden be responsible for rural hospital closings? Perhaps it's the fault of illegal immigrants?

[valleyrogue]

9. These people are complete morons.

They are trying to claim that Medicaid recipients are nothing but a bunch of lazy baby mommas and male bums with a dozen kids in tow when in fact the lion's share of the benefits go to those in nursing homes.

These people are vicious and stupid.

[Montauk6]

11. The party of suffering, degradation, poverty (for most), oppression, ignorance

Both sides, huh....

Malloy 3:16 ringing loud and clear!

[sakabatou]

12. Just pure and utter cruelty

[groundloop]

13. But these cuts are necessary .......

because Billionaires don't like paying their fair share of taxes.

[DENVERPOPS]

15. It is worse than that GL

The Rich and shameless feel they shouldn't pay ANY taxes because THEY provide the jobs. And if it wasn't for them, there would be NO jobs.....

[Wonder Why]

14. Thank goodness! I was worried that the billionaires would not get their critically necessary tax cut to

avoid going on Medicare themselves.

--- For those that can't do without it.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

16. Because of trickle down economics

AKA pissing down someone's backside and telling them it's raining.

[Evolve Dammit]

17. Sadistic bastards. They could care less about anyone else.

[cstanleytech]

18. Only potential brightside is that it might cause the rural voters to switch to Democrats candidates.

If we take the majority at State level government it gives us the ability to set state voting districts. Then maybe the districts will be set by population which means cities, where the majority of the people live would have a true fair say.

[AllaN01Bear]

19. this is going to be controversial, but i am going to say it anyway,,

when my late mom was alive and the rs would cut medicare, ss ssi, etc, she would say,, quit nickleing and diming it, just get rid of it and then see what happens .

[louis-t]

20. Why doesn't any repug just stand up and scream

"IT'S JUST NOT CRUEL ENOUGH!!"

[turbinetree]

21. I truly believe that they are all in on the "authoritarian breakthrough tactics"..........