President Donald Trump’s megabill is still working its way through Congress. Even though the bill only has a 27% approval rate, Republicans are intent on pushing this megabill through. For weeks, Americans have heard of how this bill will mainly focus on taxes and budgeting, even though it doesn’t appear that it will lower the national deficit at all.
Oddly enough, there is one aspect of this GOP megabill that isn’t being discussed enough: how the bill guts American healthcare. Even though Republicans have claimed that they won’t cut Medicaid, that’s exactly what this bill does.
If this bill passes, American healthcare will change overnight — and not for the better. Unfortunately, all this is being done quietly by the GOP politicians who know their own constituents rely on the very Medicaid they’re trying to cut.
The GOP Megabill Includes Major Medicaid Cuts
Trump has long claimed that he would never make key cuts to Medicaid. However, many Republican politicians have insinuated that cuts to healthcare may be on the horizon.
This megabill doesn’t outright cut Medicaid. Instead, the GOP is going after what they call “loopholes.” For example, this bill is seeking to limit Medicaid’s provider tax. This provider tax, which 49 states use, allows states to get more federal matching funds for Medicaid. Democrats have gone into an uproar over this move, and so have some Republicans. GOP Senator Josh Hawley has gone against these cuts, as he worries it would hurt rural hospitals in his state.
Fewer people will be covered if this megabill is passed, too. While the Affordable Care Act (ACA) allowed 32 million more people to get healthcare coverage upon its passing in 2010, this megabill would result in 11 to 16 million fewer Americans receiving healthcare coverage.
If Republicans want to hurt regular Americans, both conservative and liberal, this megabill gets the job done.
Republicans Have to Return to the Drawing Board
Somewhat luckily, it appears the Republicans’ desire to cut Medicaid has been dealt a blow. A new Senate parliamentary ruling has revealed that these Medicaid cuts will not be passed along party lines. As a result, conservative senators have to return to the drawing board to make key changes.
To get this bill passed, as senators like Hawley have come out against these Medicaid cuts, the GOP will have to rewrite these cuts or even remove them entirely from the bill. One can only hope that the latter happens.
Perhaps most confusing is how this megabill will actually impact the national deficit. Republicans have been incredibly loud about how they need to lower the deficit. However, this megabill will end up increasing the deficit by $2.4 trillion.
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