House Speaker Mike Johnson Pledges to Protect Eligible Medicaid Recipients

TL/DR –

House Speaker Mike Johnson states that the president has pledged not to harm Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid recipients who are eligible for these benefits. However, the Congressional Budget Office claims that House Republicans cannot meet their budget target without making significant cuts to Medicaid or Medicare. Johnson’s plan to save on Medicaid involves targeting fraud, waste, and abuse and potentially removing able-bodied workers from the program, but critics argue the actual scope of fraud and waste is not enough to achieve the proposed cuts.

Medicaid Cuts Amid Misconceptions and Challenges

“We won’t harm Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid recipients,” House Speaker Mike Johnson assured during an interview with Punchbowl News. This comes in light of findings that almost 25% of adults below 65 in his rural Louisiana territory depend on Medicaid, according to an NBC News analysis.

However, the Congressional Budget Office reported last month that the Republican budget goal cannot be attained without significant Medicaid or Medicare cuts. Despite this, Johnson insists savings can be achieved by addressing fraud, waste, and abuse.

Boston University associate professor Megan Cole Brahim disagrees, indicating a discrepancy between the proposed cuts and the actual scope of fraud and waste. She highlights that while reform is needed, simply targeting these areas may be insufficient to meet the outlined financial targets.

Johnson proposed another strategy for Medicaid saving, suggesting the removal of “able-bodied workers” who opt out of employment due to government benefits. He believes these individuals inflate the program numbers and detract from those genuinely in need. However, a recent KFF study counters this view, showing nearly two-thirds of Medicaid recipients aged 19-64 were employed in 2023. The bulk of the remaining were caregivers, ill, disabled, or students.

Caption: Pauline McLaurin expresses concern over the potential loss of Medicaid.

For working individuals like Ronnie McLaurin, a self-employed electrician without health insurance, the threat of Medicaid cuts brings significant concerns for families like his.

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