After months of claiming they would not touch Medicaid, Republicans appear to be planning to do so in their spending bill, which would result in the loss of coverage for 10.3 million recipients.
Republicans want to impose work requirements and more frequent eligibility checks for enrollees. The bill also requires some recipients to pay for some of their coverage if their income exceeds the federal poverty line, which is $15,650 per year for a single adult.
Rep. Mark Alford (R-MO) spoke on Wednesday’s CNN News Central to defend the Republicans’ plan.
The lawmaker maintained that reducing Medicaid fraud would result in cost savings. Boris Sanchez, the host, questioned Alford about the implications of the GOP plan.
“I do wonder, though, because one in five Missourians are covered by Medicaid,” Sanchez told me. “Approximately how many of them, in your opinion, would be deemed ineligible for these benefits, or are committing fraud? “Do you have an estimate or rough number?”
“I don’t have any numbers on that,” Alford responded. “I understand that some people in Show Me State are concerned.
But it’s a show-me state, and we’re going to ask people to show me why they should be spending taxpayer money on Medicaid, which is funneled from the federal government down to the state level.
Look, we are not devoid of compassion. That is not what this is about. I care about turning this country around. We are on the verge of going over the cliff due to our $36 trillion debt.
“Congressman, there may be waste and fraud, but the reason that I ask you for an estimate is because it seems like ultimately, people that may have legitimate claims are going to wind up losing their benefits,” replies Sanchez. “It’s already estimated that there are thousands of people… who are eligible for Medicaid that aren’t receiving it.”
Alford responded tautologically, saying, “I will do everything I can, Boris, in my district to ensure that if you are eligible for Medicaid, we will get you the benefits you deserve.”
Some MAGA supporters are wary of Medicaid cuts because many enrollees voted for Trump.
“Medicaid is going to be a complicated one,” Steve Bannon said in February. “Just can’t take a meat axe to it, although I would love to.”
