A legislative battle is brewing in the Senate over President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” with a key point of contention being proposed changes to Medicaid.
Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) has emerged as a vocal opponent of cuts to the widely used healthcare program, warning his colleagues to heed President Trump’s earlier stance on leaving Medicaid largely intact.
This comes as House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) vehemently denies that the recently passed House version of the bill, now headed to the Senate, will result in widespread coverage losses.
Hawley has long maintained that he will not support a version of the bill that strips benefits from his constituents. His position stems from a belief that the proposed cuts go against President Trump’s stated desire to avoid Medicaid benefit reductions and the closure of rural hospitals.
READ: Jonathan Turley: Judges Undermining Their Own Anti-Trump Rulings
“Why don’t we just listen to the guy who won the election, who said that he doesn’t want any Medicaid benefit cuts, he doesn’t want rural hospitals to close,” Hawley said.
A significant point for Hawley is the inclusion of his Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) in the bill, a measure he has championed for two years. While acknowledging this as a “sweetener” for his support, Medicaid remains a top priority in the broader reconciliation fight.
Hawley’s concerns are particularly focused on the impact on his home state, where approximately 1.3 million Missourians rely on Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
He argues that most of these individuals are working but cannot afford private health insurance, contending that it is “wrong to go to those people and say, ‘Well, you know, we know you’re doing the best, we know that you’re working hard, but we’re going to take away your healthcare access.’”
Conversely, House Speaker Mike Johnson has strongly refuted claims that the House-passed bill would lead to 4.8 million Americans losing Medicaid coverage. In an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, Speaker Johnson asserted, “There are no Medicaid Cuts in the big, beautiful Bill. We’re not cutting Medicaid. What we’re doing is strengthening the program.”
READ: “We Triple Down”: Border Czar Tom Homan Vows No Retreat On ICE Worksite Enforcement
The core of the debate centers on a proposed requirement for able-bodied individuals to work or volunteer 20 hours per week to maintain Medicaid eligibility. While opponents, including the American Hospital Association, warn of significant coverage losses and potential impacts on rural hospitals, Speaker Johnson dismisses the 4.8 million figure as a misunderstanding. He clarified that this figure refers to “able-bodied workers” who, in his view, should contribute to society.
“If you are able to work and you’re not, and you are riding on the public wagon, you need to help pull it,” Johnson stated, emphasizing the flexibility of the 20-hour requirement through volunteering or job training programs. He added, “Those 4.8 million people will not lose their Medicaid unless they choose to do so.”
READ: Georgia Rep. MTG Calls For Prayers Amid Israel-Iran War, Effort Seeks To Curb U.S. Involvement
Johnson also cited significant fraud within the Medicaid program, claiming “tens of billions of dollars every year are lost in fraud,” and that an additional 1.2 million people are “totally ineligible to be on the program.” He concluded that the legislation aims to “preserve Medicare, strengthen Medicaid for the people who actually need it and deserve it, and we’re going to get rid of the fraud, race, and abuse.”
As the bill moves to the Senate, the diverging views of key Republican figures like Senator Hawley and Speaker Johnson set the stage for further scrutiny and debate over the future of Medicaid. The outcome could significantly impact millions of Americans relying on the program for their healthcare needs.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
