Overview

• Twelve moderate House Republicans, led by Reps. David Valadao and Don Bacon, have drawn a firm line against any Medicaid benefit cuts in the proposed reconciliation bill.
• The bill includes a directive for $880 billion in spending cuts over the next decade, which analysts say will be impossible without altering Medicaid.
• Moderates argue that reductions to Medicaid could jeopardize hospitals, nursing homes, and safety-net providers, particularly in rural and underserved areas reliant on Medicaid funding.
• Republican leaders claim their reforms would target waste, fraud, and abuse while adding work requirements for able-bodied adults, but moderates remain skeptical of these assurances.
• The group has expressed support for targeted Medicaid reforms, such as improving efficiency and transparency, without compromising coverage for vulnerable populations.