GOP Medicaid Cuts Proposal Threatens Coverage for 20M Americans

The GOP budget proposal aims to cut Medicaid funding by $880 billion, potentially eliminating coverage for over 20 million Americans, primarily affecting children, seniors, and disabled individuals. It includes repealing the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion, which would strip 17 million adults of coverage, and introduces measures like work requirements that could further reduce enrollment. The plan would also cap federal spending to states, shifting financial burdens to state governments, which could respond with eligibility restrictions and service cuts, impacting state health systems and local economies significantly.

Medicaid covers over 80 million people and funds a wide range of healthcare services from prenatal care to nursing homes. The proposed cuts have drawn concerns from governors and health officials nationwide, including warnings from the National Governors Association about potential destabilization of state health systems. Although the plan faces strong opposition in the Senate and a promised presidential veto, it reflects the Republican agenda for future budget negotiations centered on reducing federal health spending and restructuring Medicaid funding.